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O'Brien's goal enough to keep Drogheda's title challenge alive

Drogheda U 1 Bohemians 0: IF THERE were medals to be awarded after this one, Drogheda would be wearing the miraculous kind as…

Sat Aug 11 2012 - 01:00

Drogheda U 1 Bohemians 0:IF THERE were medals to be awarded after this one, Drogheda would be wearing the miraculous kind as they somehow held on to take all three points from an encounter in which Bohemians will feel they merited at least a share of the spoils.

United were the better side in the first half and went close to breaking the deadlock with the 20- minute mark approaching.

Seán Brennan, who was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, picked himself up and his resulting free-kick with the took a wicked double deflection before somehow ending up in the grasp of grateful goalkeeper Andy McNulty who was prone on the ground on the goal line.

Drogheda, now getting a grip on matters, weren’t far away again after 30 minutes when a clearance from a corner fell nicely for Paul Crowley who sent a powerful header from distance only just over the target.

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The home side’s dominance eventually paid dividends after 36 minutes when Gavin Brennan was upended in the box and Declan O’Brien stepped up to dispatch the spot kick in style.

Within minutes Drogheda should have doubled their advantage and Gavin Brennan was involved once more, this time setting up Peter Hynes who headed over when he should have scored.

Six minutes into the second half the visitors went close to an equaliser as Ryan McEvoy’s powerful shot took a deflection and only just sailed past the post.

Karl Moore was next to impress for a resurgent Bohemians when he picked the ball up in his own half and raced towards goal before unleashing a fierce shot which goalkeeper Gabriel Sava did really well not only to save but keep a hold of.

In additional time at the end Drogheda should have made the points safe when Gavin Brennan broke away on the left and crossed for brother, Ryan, whose header was brilliantly saved at point blank range by McNulty.

In the 94th minute a mad scramble in the Drogheda box saw Dwayne Wilson’s shot hacked from the line as United just about held on for the win.

DROGHEDA: Sava, Quigley, Hand (Gannon 61 mins), Prendergast, S Brennan (R Brennan 71 mins), G Brennan, Hynes (Sullivan 81 mins), Crowley, O’Brien, Foley, Byrne.

BOHEMIANS: McNulty, Heary, Lopes, McMillan, Feeley (Barker 30 mins), Moore, McEvoy, Ward, Wilson, Corcoran (Mulligan 65 mins), Martin (Traynor 74 mins).

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).