Derry beats Drogs with two late goals

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Two late goals by substitutes Ciaron Harkin and Stephen Mallon pushed Derry City past the spirited Drogheda United and into the knockout stages of the FAI Extra.ie Cup.

The game looked ready for extra time, and perhaps penalties, after 90 minutes of sometimes frantic football that lacked quality in either area. However, referee Derek Tomney was busy, brandishing eight cards in total, including United manager Tim Clancy.

United disconnected late and allowed Colm Horgan to cross for Harkin to enter with his side foot and then Stephen Mallon confirmed the victory in stoppage time.

Candystripes boss Declan Devine will be so thankful that he didn’t see his players face 120 minutes of soccer twice in five days.

He only made one change to his lineup following Tuesday night’s UEFA Europa League overtime loss in Vilnius, with Cameron McJannet replacing Colm Horgan on defense.

The five-time winners last won the competition in 2012 in Devine’s first spell in charge and while he’s prepared to secure European qualification through the league once again, he will have set his sights on bringing the silverware back. to Foyleside by raising this competition for the sixth time in the club’s history.

The fit Drogheda was a difficult obstacle at United Park and it showed in the first 20 minutes of the first half when the hosts used their wings to good effect. James Brown and especially Conor Kane provided United’s most dangerous attack.

Twice Kane responded down the left, once leaving Darren Cole and Eoin Toal of Derry in his wake before firing a shot over the bar. Brown’s shot from the edge of the area came as close as the Drogs got to a first goal, but was widely deflected.

Derry came more into the game as the first half progressed, with Conor McCormack as driver and Adam Hamill becoming more prominent. The former could be considered lucky for only receiving a yellow card for a late tackle to Brown.

Central defender McJannet headed from under the crossbar and then Hamill’s good shot went straight into Drogheda goalkeeper Ross Treacy, making his competitive debut for the club.

United had not beaten a league club in national cup action since achieving a win against Shamrock Rovers in August 2018. Tim Clancy chose a team with repeating the trick very much in mind.

He brought in central defender Jack Tuite for Stephen Meaney and switched to a three-on-the-back system with the aim of absorbing pressure and hitting the visitors with quick counterattacks. It also left him with a weighted attack bench to choose from after the break.

He may not have added them if United had seized their opportunities. Hugh Douglas glanced around a corner and after a quick getaway, Brandon Bermingham’s shot whistled just off Peter Cherrie’s post.

Stephen Mallon finished off the victory for the visitors

The game opened up considerably in the second half – classic cup fare, you might say – and Derry had its chances too. Hamill passed Ibrahim Meite, who fired wide. The well-traveled product of the Liverpool academy was at the center of many of the good things about Derry.

He tried to hit Treacy only to see his effort clear the crossbar, while Joe Thomson couldn’t disturb the goalkeeper when he shot well wide.

Chances were slim at the end of time and overtime seemed less of a possibility and more of an inevitability. That was until Harkin converted Horgan’s right wing cross in the final minute of regulation.

Three minutes into injury time, fellow substitute Mallon produced an emphatic shot to seal Derry’s progression.

Drogheda United: Ross Treacy, James Brown, Jack Tuite (Chris Lyons, 64), Derek Prendergast, Hugh Douglas, Conor Kane, Richie O’Farrell, Jake Hyland, Mark Hughes, Brandon Bermingham (Stephen Meaney, 84), Mark Doyle.

City of Derry: Peter Cherrie, Cameron McJannet, Eoin Toal, Darren Cole, Ciaran Coll, Conor MvCormack, Adam Hamill, Joe Thompson (Colm Horgan, 73); Jake Dunwoody (Ciaron Harkin, 57), Oluwaseun Akintunde (Steven Mallon, 57), Ibrahim Meite.

Referee: Derek Tomney



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