Pressure mounts as Derry City falter away to Drogheda
A second half penalty from Ryan Brennan proved the difference as Tiernan Lynch's men saw their six game unbeaten streak snapped
A second-half Ryan Brennan penalty proved decisive on Boyneside as Derry City suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Drogheda United at Sullivan and Lambe Park in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday evening, bringing their six-game unbeaten run to an end.
It marked another frustrating setback for Tiernan Lynch’s men following consecutive draws against Bohemians and Galway United, with the Candystripes once again losing ground on the leading pack. Just three points now separate fifth-placed Derry from Sligo Rovers in the relegation play-off position.
It was the second meeting of the sides this season, with the first ending in a dramatic 2-2 draw back in March at the Ryan McBride Brandywell. Lynch was left frustrated by his side’s defensive frailties that night, as two Drogheda goals in the space of ninety seconds wiped out what had looked like a commanding Candystripes lead after strikes from Michael Duffy and Darragh Markey.
Friday evening’s defeat continued that worrying trend, with the Foylesiders now winless in three, having kept just three clean sheets in sixteen league outings this season.
Tiernan Lynch shuffled his pack following Monday’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Galway United, making several changes to his starting XI. Super-sub Kevin Dos Santos was handed his first start in a Derry City shirt, while Michael Duffy returned to the side for the first time since March’s clash with Drogheda after recovering from a quad tear.
Brandon Fleming and Conor Barr also came into the team in place of Ben Doherty and Barry Cotter, while Adam O’Reilly returned in midfield after serving a suspension. Meanwhile, Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty made four alterations from the side that suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Monday night, with Thomas Oluwa, Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan and Warren Davis all returning to the starting line-up.
Derry’s first real opportunity arrived in the twenty-third minute when Drogheda failed to deal with Fleming’s inswinging corner. Patrick McClean held up possesion for Darragh Markey on the edge of the area, but the former Drogheda midfielder saw his deflected effort spin behind for another corner.
Five minutes later, midfielder Adam O’Reilly tried his luck from distance, but his powerful strike from outside the box drifted narrowly wide of Fynn Talley’s left-hand post. Drogheda’s first dangerous attack came on the half-hour mark when Warren Davis burst toward the byline before flashing a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Jamie Stott was well positioned to clear the danger.
In the thirty-eighth minute, Derry came close again when Patrick McClean met Fleming’s deep corner at the back post with a looping header, only for Shane Farrell to hack the ball off the line in what was the best chance of a cagey first half as the sides went in at the interval with nothing to separate them.
Shortly after the restart the Foylesiders forced a double save from Fynn Tally, with the Drogheda goalkeeper first denying Conor Barr from close range after good work by Michael Duffy before reacting quickly again to stop the rebound from the twenty-year-old.
However, moments later the game swung in Drogheda’s favour. Warren Davis raced beyond Carl Winchester and went down under the challenge of Jamie Stott inside the area, leaving referee Arnold Hunter with little option but to point to the penalty spot. Drogs captain Ryan Brennan stepped up and emphatically blasted his penalty into the roof of the net to hand the hosts the lead.
Drogheda nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when former Candystripe Brandon Kavanagh unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike that forced Edward Beach into a smart save.
Substitute Henry Rylah came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the three minutes from time when he turned sharply on the edge of the area and unleashed a fierce right-footed effort from distance that crashed off the underside of the crossbar. On first glance it looked as if the ball might have in fact crossed the line but referee Arnold Hunter thought otherwise
However, that was as close as Derry came as they slipped to a frustrating defeat. It leaves Lynch’s side with just two points from their last three fixtures ahead of another difficult assignment away to basement side Waterford next week. Meanwhile, Kevin Doherty's charges can look up the table as they take on Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Drogheda: Fynn Talley; Edwin Agbaje, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; James Bolger, Ryan Brennan (Jago Godden 72), Warren Davis, Brandon Kavanagh (Andrew Quinn 88), Shane Farrell, Thomas Oluwa; Mark Doyle (Jason Buckner 68).
Derry City: Edward Beach; Brandon Fleming, Patrick McClean, Jamie Stott, Conor Barr (Cameron Dummigan 85); Michael Duffy (Henry Rylah 71), Carl Winchester, Adam O’Reilly (Josh Thomas 90); Darragh Markey (Barry Cotter 71), Kevin Dos Santos (Dipo Akinyemi 71), James Clarke.
Referee: Arnold Hunter.