

Darragh Markey 5' | 1-0 | |
7' Conor Tourish | ||
33' Ethan Boyle | ||
Keith Cowan 44' | ||
52' Luke Rudden | ||
Dayle Rooney 90' | 2-0 |
Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
6 November 2022 | 7:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Drogheda beat Harps to gain first home win since August
Darragh Markey's well-taken strike after just five minutes saw Drogheda United finish the Premier Division campaign victorious with a 2-0 home win over already-relegated Finn Harps.
On a night where their manager Kevin Doherty spoke about a side decimated by injuries, the Drogs finished on a high in-front of their home crowd – sealing their first home win since mid-August against FAI Cup finalists Shelbourne.
It was an uneventful first-half with few clear goalscoring opportunities, unsurprising given there was nothing for either to play for besides pride.
That didn't stop Darragh Noone floating a brilliant cross into the box, the visitors failed to clear their lines and the loose ball dropped to Markey – patient before nestling home a sidefooted effort.
It could've been 2-0 shortly afterwards, as Dylan Grimes and Ryan Brennan combined from Lee Steacy's long searching ball forward, but lacked execution with time and space in abundance.
Brennan's cross flew wide of the far post, but Grimes - who took a brilliant initial touch - should've tested a shaky James McKeown in the Harps goal.
Ethan Boyle could've equalised but for a lacklustre connection on his snapshot in the area, before Luke Rudden took aim near the halfway line after spotting Steacy in no man's land.
Noone had his blushes spared after an underhit backpass to a teammate was almost punished, while Gary Boylan curled a free-kick narrowly wide from distance too.
17-year-old midfielder Emre Topcu, on as a first-half substitute, almost doubled the lead in stoppage-time. His strike wasn't hard enough, but gave Harps another warning sign they didn't heed because after the break, Drogheda dominated and created chances aplenty to add further goals.
Filip Mihaljevic headed Keith Cowan's diving header to safety near the goalline two minutes after the restart, while Topcu, Markey, Rooney and Dane Massey all probed as they searched for more.
Markey hit the woodwork at the end of a beautiful passing move which had Drogs fans purring in their seats, 15 minutes before Darragh Nugent hit the far post after Noone's incisive pass.
Highly-rated goalkeeper Fiachra Pagel made his senior debut off the bench in the second-half, while teenage fullback Dylan Molloy and Nigerian forward Victor Arong both came on late as supporters will be eager to see genuine minutes granted to more of their academy talents in the new year.
Topcu and Nugent both came close with individual efforts, before Rooney put the game to bed in the 90th minute as Topcu assisted him on what was a memorable end-of-season appearance.
Drogheda's main priority next season should be about bridging the gap to their rivals and becoming the best of the rest. While their defence naturally needs strengthening, they won't achieve their targets without a more clinical edge in the final third. They could've easily scored six or seven here.
Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan angrily remonstrated with the match officials moments after full-time in what quickly became a frustrating evening, but you can't help wondering what might have been had his players displayed the same combative mindset to avoid departing the division with a whimper.
There were said to be around 20-25 travelling Finn Harps supporters who braved the elements and a difficult Sunday schedule with the 7pm kick-off to witness their side limp into the country's second-tier, and you can't help but empathise after what was another disappointing away display.
They've been hovering near the bottom since securing promotion in 2018 and cliche or not, sometimes you have to go back to move forwards. There's likely to be a lot of soul-searching and player movement between now and 2023, so results might not be immediate - but it can be done.
Timeline
7. Darragh Markey | 5' | |
7' | 4. Conor Tourish | |
Dylan Grimes Emre Topcu |
32' | |
33' | 5. Ethan Boyle | |
Keith Cowan | 44' | |
52' | 12. Luke Rudden | |
71' | Luke Rudden Sean O'Donnell |
|
Lee Steacy Fiachra Pagel |
74' | |
83' | Gary Boylan Dylan Duncan |
|
83' | Mark Timlin Jaime Siaj |
|
88' | Barry McNamee Damian Duffy |
|
8. Dayle Rooney | 90' | |
Dane Massey Dylan Molloy |
91' | |
Keith Cowan Callum Ralph |
91' | |
Dane Massey Victor Arong |
91' |
Past Meetings
![]() ![]() (Round 26)
3 - 0Finn Park Finn Harps 3-0 Drogheda United |
![]() ![]() (Round 16)
3 - 1Weavers Park Drogheda United v Finn Harps |
![]() ![]() (Round 1)
2 - 2Finn Park Finn Harps v Drogheda United |
![]() ![]() (Series 30)
0 - 0Finn Park Finn Harps v Drogheda United |
![]() ![]() (Series 19)
3 - 1Weavers Park Drogheda United v Finn Harps |
![]() ![]() (Series 12)
0 - 1Finn Park Finn Harps v Drogheda United |
![]() ![]() 3 - 2Online Event Finn Harps v Drogheda United |
![]() ![]() (Series 3)
1 - 1Weavers Park Drogheda United v Finn Harps |
![]() ![]() 2 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Drogheda United FC |
![]() ![]() 0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Finn Harps FC |
![]() ![]() 0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Drogheda United FC |
Ground
Weavers Park |
---|
United Park, Cross Lane, Fair Gate, The Borough District of Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, A92DKR0, Ireland |
Not a spellbinding game, but thanks for joining me. Stay tuned to the site for my full match report, as well as reaction around the grounds as the Irish Premier Division season ended tonight. There's still more action over the coming weeks, not least a World Cup to look forward to. Until next time, I've been Mosope Ominiyi - goodnight!
Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan angrily remonstrates with the match officials after full-time, he was booked earlier for arguing with them - a frustrating evening all-round but naturally it's not a good look for the head coach to be in such a mood after his team were soundly beaten.
FT: Drogheda United 2-0 Finn Harps, a deserved result for the hosts - who were considerably better and could've easily had five or six. They hit the woodwork twice, had more chances in a busy second-half, and Finn Harps really do look like a First Division side.
Both sides emptying their bench now with substitutes aplenty, half of them will be lucky to touch the ball - there's barely a minute left of stoppage-time!
Topcu has been unafraid to take players on, and it was his pass through to Dayle Rooney - who hit across goal, McKeown got a glove to the strike but it wasn't enough! 2-0 and deservedly so.
GOAL! Drogheda finally get their second!
Save! Nugent curls an effort goalwards, McKeown sees it late but dives to his left and pushes to safety... most thought that was in!
Double change for the visitors: Jaime Siaj and Dylan Duncan on, Mark Timlin and Gary Boylan both coming off. Still some time for a late goal here...
Topcu should've made it 2-0! If it sounds like a broken record as far as chance creation is concerned for the hosts, it probably is. Drogheda should be cruising to victory, yet Harps can still get back on level terms - Topcu skews an effort wide of the far post, while Markey is down receiving medical attention after a painful knock.
OFF THE POST! Darragh Nugent did everything right, timed his run and angled the effort across the goalkeeper... but watched his powerful low shot cannon back off the upright after Noone's incisive pass.
No injury and given the circumstances Lee Steacy will probably feel hard done by, but Fiachra Pagel makes his first senior appearance in the last 20 minutes or so.
Shaun O'Donnell, an 18-year-old winger who has barely featured this season, replaces Luke Rudden in the Harps' latest change - Rudden appeared to be in some discomfort with a knock and was running gingerly.
Markey again at the forefront of another Drogheda attack, this time his effort is blocked and out for a corner after a well-worked move featuring Topcu and Rooney... the referee sees a foul though, Finn Harps goal-kick.
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Drogheda should've doubled their lead! Massey's quick feet help him thread the ball through to Rooney, who in turn passes forward - Brennan with a cheeky dummy letting the ball run through for goalscorer Markey, he hits the upright! How is it still 1-0?
Remember those heart-in-mouth moments I discussed for goalkeeper Lee Steacy in the first-half? Yeah well, he just had another one - palming a cross away, rather than punching... and that frantic moment just energised the visitors to start pumping long balls into the area for him and the Drogheda backline to deal with.
Dayle Rooney, and then Ryan Rainey have good sights of goal for either side. Somehow it's still 1-0 though.
Finn Harps' Luke Rudden is next into the referee's book for a late scything challenge in the Drogheda half, attempting to win a loose ball but instead clattering into a defender.
Dane Massey heads goalwards, it deflects off a Harps player and trickles out for another corner... nothing comes of that latest set-piece though, and the visitors can breathe a sigh of relief.
Rooney's subsequent corner is headed over the bar from under the crossbar by an alert Tourish! The pressure continues.
Topcu releases Markey with a clever pass, he looks up and loops a dangerous cross for Rooney... he heads wide and it's deflected out for a corner. Should have scored!
OFF THE LINE! Filip Mihaljevic - quiet in attack so far tonight - heads away to safety after Cowan's diving header flashes across goal. Moments beforehand, Topcu again was dangerous in the final third.
Kick-off! Second-half has begun, it appears as though no changes at the break by either side. 1-0 to Drogheda as it stands, Finn Harps know the deficit could be much worse already - uneventful match or not.
HT: Drogheda United 1-0 Finn Harps. Markey's well-taken finish separates the sides at the break, but Emre Topcu almost doubled the hosts' lead - but his strike wasn't hit hard enough as James McKeown was equal to it. An uneventful half but given there's nothing at stake, that isn't a surprise. Back shortly for the second-half.
The fourth official's electronic board shows there will be just one minute of stoppage-time to be added on.
Drogheda captain and centre-back Keith Cowan is booked for a deliberate handball, as he scampered to recover after losing his footing in his own half as a pair of Harps players charged him down.
It's been a flat, frustrating first-half besides the goal and Markey produced a great defence-splitting ball just now, only for said teammate latching onto the pass to be offside. Ouch.
Markey wriggles his way free inside the box, teammates open in support but he goes for goal himself... his effort is blocked, before the linesman's flag is up on the far side for offside.
Boyle, who should've been carded earlier, can't escape punishment any longer as the totting up procedure catches up to him - another not-so-subtle foul on the near side sees him receive the game's second booking.
So Grimes is unable to continue and highly-rated teenager Emre Topcu - 17-year-old midfielder replaces him.
Stoppage in play now, as Dylan Grimes is down on the turf and receiving medical attention.
Another heart-in-mouth moment for Steacy, but he'll quietly stress he had his angles covered there after Gary Boylan curls a free-kick narrowly wide from distance.
Speaking of dicey distribution, Darragh Noone has his blushes spared after an underhit back pass to a teammate is almost capitalised... but the danger is averted.
I don't want to tempt fate, but Finn Harps goalkeeper James McKeown is giving me anxiety every time he tries to distribute the ball with his feet to a teammate short. Drogheda players will catch on, sooner rather than later, and press him accordingly to force a mistake.
Just wide! Luke Rudden spots Steacy off his line and takes aim, just past the halfway line... the effort was well-struck and had the goalkeeper scrambling, but it flashes narrowly wide of the far post. Still 1-0.
Close! Ethan Boyle doesn't get proper connection when shooting goalwards from close-range after a corner, hitting on the turn - an effort headed yards off the line - before Drogheda clear their lines.
Dylan Grimes and Ryan Brennan combine from Steacy's long searching ball forward, but the latter's cross flies wide of the far post. After such a good initial first touch, Grimes should've tried his luck.
Tourish is first into the referee's book and can have no complaints after diving in late and committing a foul dangerously close to the box. Thankfully from his perspective, nothing comes of it.
Markey proves patience is paramount after nestling home a sidefooted effort into the far corner, after a brilliant inswinging ball fizzed into the area by Noone isn't dealt with by the visitors' backline... and it drops to the midfielder.
GOAL! MARKEY MAKES IT 1-0 TO DROGHEDA!
Kick-off! After observing a minute's silence for those who lost their lives in the Creeslough disaster two weeks ago, we're underway. Drogheda will play from left-to-right in this first 45.
Lee Steacy, signed on a free transfer in July, makes his first league start in goal for the hosts tonight. It appears they're deploying a 3-5-2 formation with Darragh Markey and Dayle Rooney the wingbacks... Noone and Deegan feature in a two-pronged attack.
Doherty was honest during his pitchside interview and among other things he said, was this excerpt: "It'll be a long time before we're back here again, hopefully we can give the fans something to be happy about before work tomorrow." Finishing on a high note cannot be understated, especially with families and young children here.
The players are going through their final preparations in the warm-up, with KO just ten minutes away now. Drogheda boss Kevin Doherty has spoken pre-match, discussing the fact their team has been decimated by injuries and they have a bench packed with U19 players - a few names can make an impact tonight.
It'll be interesting to see how Croatian striker Filip Mihaljevic fares, as he's starting again tonight. Bit of a cruel statistic to share but... the 30-year-old has more yellow cards (7) than goals (5) this season, is their joint top goalscorer alongside Conor Tourish and will be personally hoping for a memorable evening here.
A reminder of what I outlined in my preview, Finn Harps' manager Ollie Horgan and a collective desire to finish strong tonight. He said: "We're still going to Drogheda with a job to do, they'll want to end their season on a high. We're playing for pride but there is a lot of hurt in that dressing room, hoping to sign off the season with a win."
Team news is filtering through now, so be sure to check the line-ups tab for how both sides will feature in full.
I'm Mosope Ominiyi and I'll be taking you through the evening's action at United Park, in one of five 7pm KOs to finish the Premier Division season this Sunday night.
Good evening and welcome to tonight's live minute-by-minute commentary, as Drogheda United aim to finish their campaign with a home victory over already-relegated Finn Harps. Kick-off is set for 7pm, just under an hour's time.