

Adam Foley 8' | 1-0 | |
Ryan Brennan 52' | ||
59' Louie Annesley | ||
1-1 | 78' Patrick Hoban | |
Freddie Draper 79' | ||
1-2 | 80' Patrick Hoban | |
86' Andy Boyle |
Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
23 June 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Dundalk comeback to see off 10 man Drogs
Dundalk FC snatched the win, the Derby Day bragging rights but the night belongs to Patrick Hoban as his brace of goals meant he overtook a record that stood the test of time, held by the great Joey Donnelly to become the record goal scorer of Dundalk FC.
Adam Foley scored early in the first half but it was a quick brace of goals from Hoban that turned the game on its head with ten minutes to go. Freddie Draper got a red card in what could have consequences going forward but Drogheda will rue the three big misses early in the second half that could have seen the game beyond doubt before Hobans equalising header.
The first chance of note fell to the hosts as A corner sent in from Dayle Rooney saw Nathan Sheppard clashed with Emmanuel Adegboyega for the ball but the Drogheda defender could not keep the effort down. They didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal as Drogheda took the lead Rooney curling in an excellent corner with the ball being knocked down and Adam Foley made the cleverest of touches to slip the past Sheppard to give Drogheda the lead.
The game was a real battle of wills and Dundalk grew in stature in the tie with Connor Malley producing an incredible through ball to Daniel Kelly that split the Drogheda defence apart but the winger just pulled his effort wide. Ryan O'Kane was next to test the Drogheda defence as he cut in on the left and slipped the ball onto his right foot with his strike causing the Drogheda United keeper to spill the initial ball but it was gathered on the second attempt. The best chance to level the tie came with the last kick of the half as a corner was sent in and it looked certain that Hoban was going to score but for Wogan to save the effort with his feet.
Drogheda came out in the second half and went all guns blazing at the visitors with Adam Foley almost adding a second with a snapshot volley that took a deflection for a corner. Freddie Draper will be wondering how his effort stayed out as an amazing cross landed at the feet of Draper and he placed the ball perfectly only for it to cannon off the post and wide. He was to get the ball again snatching it off Boyle and struck an effort first time but the effort only nestled the side netting.
Then the game turned on its head.
It looked as if Dundalk were staring down the barrel only for two minutes to change the course of the game. Patrick Hoban became the official all-time leading goalscorer for Dundalk with a deft header past Wogan as he lay off from Tulloch found Dundalk’s number nine ready and waiting to break the record. With Dundalk’s next phase of attack, Ryan O’Kane bobbed and weaved across the box and he was clipped and brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. Freddie Draper incensed by the decision was shown his marching orders for remonstrating with the referee. Patrick Hoban stepped up and despite Andrew Wogan’s best attempts the Galwegian slammed it past the young Drogheda keeper to give his side the lead with just ten minutes to go.
The game almost went level just before full time with Emmanuel Adegboyega's free-kick brilliantly tipped over the bar by Sheppard in what was a game-winning save. Ryan O’Kane had two opportunities to seal the tie in added time but both attempts were saved by Wogan. But the night belonged to the man who grabbed goals number 143 and 144 in a Lilywhite shirt.
Timeline
11. Adam Foley | 8' | |
19. Ryan Brennan | 52' | |
59' | 5. Louie Annesley | |
61' | John Martin Cameron Elliott |
|
61' | Darragh Leahy Robbie McCourt |
|
61' | Daniel Kelly Rayhaan Tulloch |
|
Adam Foley Dylan Grimes |
75' | |
78' | 9. Patrick Hoban | |
9. Freddie Draper | 79' | |
80' | 9. Patrick Hoban | |
Aaron McNally Warren Davis |
83' | |
86' | 4. Andy Boyle | |
89' | Patrick Hoban Paul Doyle |
Past Meetings
Ground
Weavers Park |
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United Park, Cross Lane, Fair Gate, The Borough District of Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, A92DKR0, Ireland |
FULL TIME: Dundalk FC snatched the win, the Derby Day bragging rights but the night belongs to Patrick Hoban as his brace of goals meant he overtook a record that stood the test of time, held by the great Joey Donnelly to become the record goal scorer of Dundalk FC. Adam Foley scored early in the first half but it was a quick brace of goals from Hoban that turned the game on its head with ten minutes to go. Freddie Draper got a red card in what could have consequences going forward but Drogheda will rue the three big misses early in the second half that could have seen the game beyond doubt before Hobans equalising header.
SAVE: O'Kane's in again but Wogan denies him.
SAVE: Andrew Wogan with a fantastic save as Ryan O'Kane breaks down the right and unleashes a low effort that Wogan has to tip wide.
RED: Freddie Draper's red card is the 19th in the last 28 matches between the sides... 14 of them have gone to Drogheda.
Five added minutes
SAVE: What a save! Emmanuel Adegboyega's free kick is brilliantly tipped over the bar by Sheppard. A game winning save!
GOAL: And Hoban scores again his second in two minutes, he fires it past Wogan to put Dundalk in the lead.
RED: For something that was said to the referee Freddie Draper is given a straight red.
PENALTY DUNDALK: Ryan O'Kane is clipped in the area and the referee points to the spot.
GOAL: Patrick Hoban is the official all-time leading goalscorer for Dundalk with a deft header past Wogan
CHANCE: Connor Malley despite the attention of Gary Deggan get a low effort to Wogan's front post and he pushes it wide.
McCourt forches a corner with some direct play, the corner sent in by O' Kane is cleared at the front post.
Stephen O'Donnell rings in the changes for Dundalk: Robbie McCourt for Darragh Leahy, Rayhaan Tulloch for Daniel Kelly and Cami Elliott for John Martin.
CHANCE: Dayle Rooney's free kick is whipped in and Ryan Brennans header flashes across the face of goal. What a chance.
YELLOW: Louie Annesley get a caution for a foul on Freddie Draper
SIDE NETTING: Freddie Draper gets the ball off Boyle and hits an effort first time but his effort strikes the side netting, another big let off for Dundalk.
OFF THE POST: Freddie Draper how did that stay out, an amazing cross sent into the area and Drapers placed ball cannons off the post and wide. What a let off for Dundalk but what a chance for Drogheda.
YELLOW: Ryan Brennan gets a yellow card as he and Daniel Kelly contest for the ball and Brennan clips him.
CHANCE: From the corner Conor Keeley with a stunning volley but it just goes over the ball, what a chance for Drogheda.
CHANCE: Adam Foley with a snap shot volley and it takes a deflection for a corner and Nathan Sheppard did look very concerned and had to cover it.
SECOND HALF: We are back for the seocnd half and Dundalk are immediately on the attack.
HALF TIME: Drogheda are in the lead but Dundalk are the team on the up as the half wore on, we are in for an eventful second half.
OFF THE LINE: A corner is sent in and it looked as if Hoban was going to score but he Wogan saves the effort with his feet, Leahy with the follow up but it is deemed he had a high boot and its a free kick.
Heading towards the half way mark it has been Adam Foley's goal that seperates the side but the tale of the half has been the contrast in the style of play between the sides, its been a war of attrition here but the home side keep the lead.
SHOT: Ryan O'Kane cuts in on the left and slips onto his right foot and the strike did cause the Drogheda United keeper Andrew Wogan to spill the ball but it is gathered on the second attempt.
BETTER: Dundalk getting a little bit of joy here with some passages of play with Darragh Leahy's cross was met by Hoban but it just flashed wide.
CLOSE: Connor Malley with an incredible through ball to Daniel Kelly and the winger just pulled it wide!
QUIET: There has been little to report in terms of goal action, it is very much a case of a midfield battle and the breaking down of attacking phases of play. Hoban and Deggan are currently having what can be described as an old fashioned 'ding dong'
Dundalk have responded to the goal well but Drogheda are looking very dangerous on the break and Dundalk's defence in this tight out do not look comfortable.
STAT: Dundalk have now fallen behind in 15 of their 22 games so far this season
GOAL: And Adam Foley scores - first blood to Drogheda, Rooney curls in an excellent corner and the ball is knocked down and Foley with the clever touch to slip it past Sheppard and the Drogheda take the lead.
CHANCE: A corner sent in from Rooney and Sheppard clashes with Emmanuel Adegboyega for the ball but the Drogheda defender could not keep the effort down.
First slight sight on goal sees a corner from Leahy is sent to the back post and Greg Sloggett was onrushing but the Drogs defence clear it.
KICK OFF: Dundalk have kicked off here and will be shotting towards the 'Hospital end' - We are underway!
KAROLIS: The Dundalk players will wear black armbands this evening in tribute to thier former player and teamate Karolis Chvedukas who sadly passed away earlier this week in his native Lithuania.
LEAHY THE CENTURION: Darragh Leahy makes his 100th appearance for Dundalk tonight. He scored his first goals for Dundalk with a brace in the 4-1 win over Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park on April 29th last year.
DICKIE: Daniel Kelly makes the 175th appearance of his career tonight. He has yet to score in 4 attempts against Drogheda Utd.
LOUIE LOUIE: Louie Annesley was playing at the Aviva Stadium on Monday for Gibraltar against the Republic of Ireland - his 37th cap for his country. It's just the 34th club game of his career tonight
SHEPS: Nathan Shepperd remains the only Dundalk player to have started every league game. He has kept as many clean sheets here this season as he has at Oriel Park - saving the first penalty of his senior career when denying Freddie Draper in Dundalk’s 1-0 win on March 16th.
REF WATCH: Tonight’s referee is Rob Harvey. This is the Dubliner’s fourth time in charge of a Dundalk game this season with the Lilywhites yet to win with him in charge.
THREE IN A ROW: Dundalk are aiming to make it three wins in-a-row following back-to-back come-from-behind victories over UCD and Cork City before the break. Their win over Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park at the end of April kick-started a previous run of 4 wins in-a-row.
KEV VS DUNDALK: Tonight is Kevin Doherty’s 10th time managing against Dundalk. His only two wins came in the two games here last season, with 0 draws and 7 defeats from the other matches – four of them coming during his time in charge of Shelbourne.
HEAD TO HEAD: Of the last 18 games between the sides in all competitions, Dundalk have won 14 of them on an aggregate scoreline of 47-11.
HEAD TO HEAD: Dundalk have won both games between the sides so far this season – 1-0 win at Weavers Park on March 16th courtesy of Connor Malley’s 65th minute strike, with Freddie Draper having an 87th minute penalty saved by Nathan Shepperd. The Lilywhites also won the last meeting between the sides at Oriel on April 28 on a 3-2 scoreline with John Martin notching a stoppage time winner after Drogheda had pulled 2 goals back through Rooney and Draper to cancel out O'Kane and Hoban's strikes after Deegan was sent-off.
SKIP VS DROGHEDA: It’s O’Donnell’s 10th time managing against Drogheda Utd tonight. He has won 6 and lost 3 of the previous nine meetings, including two 1-0 defeats at Weavers Park last season. His other defeat against the Boynesiders also came in Drogheda in May 2021 when Drogheda were 3-1 winners against his St Patrick’s Athletic side with Dane Massey, Mark Doyle and Jordan Adeyemo on target.
THE BBC IS IN THE HOUSE: A BBC film crew are here this evening as part of a feature on derby matches.
BACKGROUND: It’s the 174th Louth Derby match tonight. Dundalk have won 95, Drogheda have won 38 while there have been 40 draws. It’s the 104th league meeting between the Louth rivals. Dundalk have won 57, Drogheda 21, while there have been 25 draws.
TEAM NEWS: Stephen O'Donnell has made two changes from the win over Cork City last time out with John Martin rewarded for his winner off the bench with a start and Connor Malley, who scored the winner here back in March, also restored to the starting eleven.
Good Evening from FinalWhistle HQ - Ciaran Callan here to give you the action as it happens from Weavers Park where Drogheda take on Drogheda in the Louth Derby.