Galway United 0
Drogheda United 1

A blistering strike from the evergreen Ollie Cahill five minutes after half-time, was enough to give Drogheda United maximum reward for an industrious and thoroughly dominant performance in Terryland Park on Friday night.

ATTACK . . . Galway United's John Russell sets up another attack against champions Drogheda United at Terryland Park on Friday evening. Photo: Alan Gallagher.

Cahill got on the end of a Sami Ristila knockdown and volleyed past Gary Rogers after an excellent dinked cross from Jason Gavin.

The former Shelbourne man, and four times league winner, may well be approaching the tail-end of his career, but he gave a display of classic wing-play to the Terryland faithful.

Drogheda dominated possession for vast periods of the game, but a helter-skelter last five minutes from United almost pulled a point out of the fire.

Reserve Derek Glynn had an excellent opportunity to grab the draw in the dying seconds, but somehow contrived to shoot over from four yards after being set up by John Russell.

Russell himself had a headed effort cleared off the line in the 93rd minute, but the visitors hung-on for the win.

Mark Leech came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half after only 90 seconds action. He gathered a desperately poor header from Gavin and let fly from 20 yards, only to see his effort crash back off the crossbar.

Jay O'Shea also threatened five minutes from the break. He neatly controlled a Derek O'Brien crossfield pass, cut inside onto his weaker left foot and unleashed a curling effort toward Jamie Ewings' bottom corner, but the Drogheda keeper somehow managed to get a finger on the shot and directed it behind for a corner.

Despite Drogheda owning the ball throughout, it was the home side that carved the better chances, and but for some wayward finishing and last-ditch defending they would have reaped the rewards.

"We were up for the challenge. We worked hard, the commitment and desire was there, but maybe we lacked that bit of quality to get the goal and cause them some problems," said United boss Jeff Kenna.

"I am delighted with the reaction from the players against the champions after the poor performance last week. But we must stop throwing in the bad performances against the so-called lesser teams. Those are the games we need to pick up points," he said.

Galway Unitred: Rogers; A. Keane (Conneely, 84), Lester, Fitzgerald, Nooitmeer; O'Shea, Deegan, Russell, O'Brien; Leech, Faherty (Glynn, 68).

Drogheda United: Ewings; Shelley (Tambouras, 84), Maher, Gavin, Kendrick; O'Keeffe, Byrne, Hughes, Cahill, Bates, Ristila

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork)

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