Drogheda survive the siege

Despite the scoreline, Drogheda and Galway served up a lively enough FAI Cup first round encounter for those who braved the cold at United Park.

It was hardly football at its purest, but there was plenty of end-to-end action to satisfy most, and if tomorrow's reply at Terryland Park measures up to the same standard, then supporters will be in for an exciting night.

Galway were virtually camped in the home half for the opening 30 minutes and might have gone ahead as early as the fourth minute, when Eric Levine found Ryan Lucas unmarked with a low cross from the right. But the number nine rushed his shot and fired well over from just eight yards out.

However, the visitors were unlucky not to be ahead with 16 minutes gone when the woodwork came to the rescue of Drogheda goalkeeper Gareth Byrne, who was temporarily blinded by the bright sunshine.

There seemed little danger as Levine lined up a free kick just 15 yards inside the Drogheda half. But his powerfully struck shot caught Byrne off his line and the Drogheda goalkeeper was relieved to gather as the ball bounced down off the underside of the crossbar.

However, despite a tentative start, the home side gradually grew in confidence and former Galway striker, Fergal Coleman missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead, blasting the ball high and wide in front of an open goal after latching onto a sloppy Luther Watson back pass in the 11th minute.

The visitors were denied once more, 30 seconds into the second half, when Byrne brilliantly tipped away a point-blank effort by Gareth Gorman. But chances were at a premium thereafter.

Drogheda: Byrne, A Murphy, Shevlin, Maher, Beggs, C Murphy, Coleman, Fox, Revins, O'Dowd, Gahan. Sub: Nugent, for Gahan (73 mins).

Galway: Cobey, Watson, Carter, Costello, Clery, Dolan, Keane, Gorman, Lucas, O'Flaherty, Levine. Subs: Thornton for O'Flaherty (66 mins), Cregg for Gorman (80 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin)