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Details

Date Time League Season
24 July 2021 3:00 pm FAI Cup 2021

Match Report

Derry pens see City top Drogheda in Cup

An Evan McLaughlin place kick proved vital for Derry City as they knocked Drogheda out of the FAI Cup this afternoon on penalties after 120 minutes of football that delivered all the drama you would expect in a cup tie.

Dinny Corcoran’s opener in the 46th minute had the Drogs in front but when Dane Massey was shown a red for a deliberate handball, and skipper James Browne was shown a second yellow for simulation, it became more than an uphill task to hold on.

They coped well however until Luke Heeney gave away a clumsy penalty at the death of the 90 minutes and Danny Lafferty converted for Derry. After an uneventful extra-time the Candystripes won 4-2 in the shootout to advance in the competition

It was a strange affair at Head in Game Park, with a real cup feel, and a real cup outcome. The visitors looked strides above their opponents but as they continued to show nothing in the final third the contest left you constantly wondering which manager was happier.

The Northerners arrived with their customary FAI Cup flair. Joe Thomson was outstanding in midfield in the first half and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe also looked lively. So it was that when Corcoran scored on the brink of half-time for Tim Clancy’s side it could only be described as a suckerpunch.

The second half was much of the same only with added controversy and drama. Derry continued to pile on the pressure but this became more of a problem for Drogheda when Dane Massey was shown red for a deliberate handball on the line in the 51st minute. Junior missed the following penalty though and Drogheda’s battle had really begun.

With ten minutes left of the 90 though, captain James Browne went down in the box claiming he was tripped, but the referee gave him a second yellow for simulation.

It seemed to be a fair shout by Browne hence a harsh decision by the ref. Drogs players understandably weren’t pleased having gone down to ten men and even Clancy was sent off for complaining.

With the away side now smelling blood, and two men up; it felt they would finish the game off but they struggled to create and so it became a very commendable defensive performance from the hosts.

However to their own despair Heeney fouled awkwardly in stoppage time and Derry had another penalty which Danny Lafferty converted, sending the game to extra time.

It was a surprisingly uneventful extra time and Derry still couldn’t break Drogheda down and the home side made it to the shootout unscathed.

Unfortunately for all their heroics they were sent packing by the Candystripes on penatlies. It finished 4-2 on spot kicks, McLaughlin slotting home the decisive one.

Drogheda Utd

1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
2James Browne Defender 80'
3Conor Kane Defender
7Darragh Markey 11 Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder
10Dinny Corcoran Forward 46'
14Mark Doyle 22 Forward
19Killian Phillips Midfielder
17Ronan Murray 21 Forward
41Dane Massey Defender 51'
45Mark Hughes Midfielder
23David Odumosu Goalkeeper
11Jake Hyland 7 Midfielder
15Mohamed Boudiaf Defender
16Brandon Bermingham Forward
18Charles Mutawe Defender
20Jordan Adeyemo Forward
21Luke Heeney 17 Midfielder
22James Clarke 14 Midfielder

Derry City

1Nathan Gartside Goalkeeper
3Ciaran Coll 31 Defender
4Ciaron Harkin 25 Midfielder
6Eoin Toal Defender
7Will Fitzgerald 33 Midfielder
8Joe Thomson Midfielder
11James Akintunde Forward
15Ronan Boyce Defender
20Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe Forward
21Cameron McJannet Defender
24Danny Lafferty Defender 95'
30Jack Lemoignan Goalkeeper
20Darren Cole Defender
24Mark McChrystal Defender
25Evan McLaughlin 4 Defender
31Patrick Ferry 3 Forward
32Caolan McLaughlin Forward
33Michael Harris 7 Midfielder
36Brendan Barr Midfielder
Caoimhin Porter Midfielder
  • Evan McLaughlin slots it home to win it for the Northeners. 2-4 on pens. Heartbreak for the Drogs who gave it everything and faced some difficult decisions today. The Candystripes go through

  • Gartside saves Phillips' pen. Still 2-3 with one spot kick left

  • Akintunde misses. Drogheda can level it now

  • 2-3. Heeney rolls it in

  • 1-3 Derry at the hands of Cameron McJannett

  • Clarke misses for Drogheda, advantage Derry

  • Hyland slots down the middle and levels. 1-1

  • Thomson slots away the first penalty. 0-1 Derry

  • A controversy filled 120 minutes has ended in Head in the Game Park. Penalties await

  • 119'

    McLaughlin hits the post for Derry with a last minute free kick !

  • 117'

    Just a few moments until a shootout here in Louth. Clancy will be the much happier of the managers considering the way certain things have unfolded

  • 105'

    Second half of extra time underway and Drogheda will do everything to get to a shootout. Derry gaffer Higgins will be frustrated that his side haven't found the net from open play today

  • 99'

    Derry will be expected to take this result now in extra time as the disadvantaged Drogheda continue to fight. For now they are coping well though and the visitors still can't seem to cut through

  • 95'

    Jake Hyland on for Markey who has arguably been man of the match

  • 90 minutes up, what a game. 1-1 after plenty of drama

  • 95'

    Lafferty converts the penalty calmly. 1-1. Agony for the Drogs who will feel very hard done by

  • 93'

    More drama at the death here as Derry get a last gasp penalty. A clumsy challenge from Luke Heeney took down Junior. Drogheda players with heads in hands

  • 89'

    Kitchen sink time for Derry now

  • 86'

    Mark Hughes goes off injured after some heroic blocks following another onslaught on the Drogs' goal. Hugh Douglas replaces him

  • 80'

    The hosts' gaffer Clancy also sent off following the controversial red

  • 80'

    Controversy here in the FAI Cup first round. Skipper Browne has been given a second yellow for simulation in what could easily be interpreted as a fair penalty claim. Drogheda down to nine men!

  • 79'

    Flurry of pressure there from Derry involving another scramble in the box and an outside the box effort from Thomson but McCabe handled well

  • 77'

    Luke Heeney replaces Ronan Murray for the hosts

  • 72'

    Harkin and Will Fitzgerald off for the visitors and Evan McLaughlin and Michael Harris come off the bench

  • 69'

    McCabe with a crucial save after James Akintunde shot from close in. Derry pressure building and building

  • 66'

    Good chance for Phillips at the back stick from a Drogs corner but his attempt went just over

  • 63'

    Higgins makes his first sub as Patrick Ferry replaces Ciaran Coll

  • 59'

    James Clarke comes on for Mark Doyle in what is assumedly a tactical change after Massey's red card. Uphill task now for the Drogs to see this out. Ruadhri Higgins wont believe his side haven't scored yet

  • 52'

    Another twist in the tale as Junior's effort from the spot hits the post and is cleared to safety. Clancy's men survive for now

  • 51'

    Cup drama unfolding here. Derry went up the other end of the pitch and a close range effort was deliberately handled on the line by Massey who receives his marching orders. Penalty for Derry and the Drogs are a man down!

  • 50'

    Darragh Markey with a chance on the break but his effort lacked purchase. You get the feeling sitting on the one goal advantage is too risky for Drogheda with the way the visitors are playing. They may need to push for a second

  • 47'

    Sloppy handling from Colin McCabe let to a scramble in the home box where the Candystripes almost equalised. Derry have picked up right where they left off in the first half in terms of pressure and possession

  • 1-0 at half time here in Head in the Game Park. Corcoran proving he is always a goal threat even with the game going the way of Derry

  • 46'

    Goal for the hosts against the run of play! Killian Phillips took it down in the box from a Dane Massey long throw and squared it to Corcoran who tapped in from a tight angle at the back post. A real sucker punch from Drogheda right on the half-time whistle.

  • 44'

    Safe to say the Northern side have been the better team as we approach the break and it feels inevitable for them to eventually make something happen in the final third. The interval might be exactly what Tim Clancy needs to wake his team up and stop the Derry momentum

  • 36'

    Big penalty claim for the away side as Ciaron Harkin felt he was tripped in the box but the referee wasn't interested

  • 29'

    Very impressive football being played by the Candystripes now, especially considering the pitch. Joe Thomson is knocking it around nicely and looking to make things happen while Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe's hold up play has been excellent. The Drogs being forced to sit in at the moment

  • 21'

    A good ball from James Browne saw Corcoran's glancing header go just wide from inside the box. The right side looks to be the hosts' best outlet so far

  • 16'

    Just over 15 minutes in and the dry surface has certainly been a factor so far with both teams struggling to keep the ball flat. The visitors however are coping better with it and have had the odd spell of possession

  • 6'

    Big chance for Dinny Corcoran for the hosts! Darragh Markey drove down the right side and cut it back nicely for Corcoran but his close range effort was tipped over by Nathan Gartside

  • 5'

    No early sightings at goal a few minutes in here. That refreshing cup game feeling is in the air at Head in the Game Park. Should be interesting to see how these sides perform with league pressures off

  • Jack Malone is suspended for Derry so Joe Thomson comes in and Marc Walsh is out injured

  • Dan O'Reilly's suspension will be a big loss at the back today for Drogheda. Mark Hughes gets his first start of the season and Colin McCabe is in goal

  • Con Sheehan here reporting on Drogheda United and Derry City in the FAI Cup first round at Head in the Game Park. Just over five minutes until kick-off in Louth

Past Meetings

(Series 14)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Derry City

(Series 5)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Drogheda United

(2nd Round)
0 - 2
FAI Cup
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Derry City

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Derry City FC

4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Derry City FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Derry City FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Derry City FC

Ground

Weavers Park
United Park, Cross Lane, Fair Gate, The Borough District of Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, A92DKR0, Ireland

21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie