Derry City 1 Drogheda United 3
A chorus of boos rang out across the Brandywell at the final whistle as City slumped to their second home defeat in four days, and their four consecutive home defeat in all competitions. It was a bitter pill to swallow for City boss Devine, who once again saw his side squander chances to win the game but ultimately can have few complaints.
The Candystripes made a number of changes following Friday’s defeat to UCD, with Michael Duffy, Sean Houston and Thomas Crawley all promoted to the starting eleven. However it was the visitors, playing a 4-5-1 formation who made much the better start to the game and grabbed the lead after twelve minutes. Gerard Doherty will not look back on the opener fondly, as he twice had the opportunity to claim the ball but failed to do so. Initially attempting to claim a long throw with one hand, he only managed to palm it into the path of Marks. The Drogheda midfielder, surprised at the gift, poked the ball onto the bar but City failed to clear. Once again, Doherty went to claim it, but failed to hold the ball and O’Brien poked home.
In truth, Derry were insipid in the first thirty minutes, symbolised by Simon Madden picking up a yellow card for volleying a ball into the hoardings after yet another misplaced pass by the Candystripes. Indeed, if Drogheda had been sharper with their finishing, it could have been two or three at the break. O’Brien curled an effort onto the roof of the bar, and Brady headed wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
Eventually the home side began to come into the game, driven by the youthful vigour of Michael Duffy. The youngster was at the heart of everything good which Derry did in the first half and served warning with a run down the left where he beat two men and had his shot blocked. However Derry hauled themselves back on level terms when a superb cross from Crawley was finished by McDaid at the back post. The home side, now well in the ascendancy, could have led at the break but Duffy was unlucky to see his shot flash wide of Slingermann.
City started the second half much the better and really should have led when Patterson, unmarked at the back post headed wide after a perfect cross from McDaid. Madden and Duffy were getting great joy down the right and provided two telling crosses into the six yard box, which no Derry player was on hand to finish. The home side were to rue those chances as the Drogs regained the lead just after the hour. Brennan sent Cassidy clear down the right and he had time to round Doherty before rolling home. City went to chase the game but the visitors were more than a match for City’s attacking threat, with the three in midfield particularly effective.
The visitors made sure of their place in the final in the 77th minute, when a long punt out of defence was chased down by O’Brien. He beat Greacen for pace, with the big centre half going down under a phantom challenge, and cut inside. His initial shot was block, but once again the Derry defence failed to clear the ball and he curled it home at the second attempt. There can be little dispute that Drogheda were worthy victors at the end, and there is much for the management team to consider with the wheels appearing to have come off in recent weeks. City’s win away to Limerick is a lone league victory in the last four but Devine will hoping that his side can pick up three points in Belfield this Friday.
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