Drogheda Utd 2 Dundalk 2:A CRACKING Louth derby in front of a 1,150 attendance finished honours even at the end of a pulsating contest where Drogheda will feel they edged it but had to settle for a share of the spoils.
United fell behind early on, drew level before the break, went ahead in the second half before conceding a late goal that denied them the win.
The first real chance of the match fell to Dundalk who hit the front with a well-worked goal when Daniel Kearns whipped a fine cross into the box which Mark Griffin steered home.
Two minutes before half-time Tiernan Mulvenna equalised for Drogheda after a flowing move.
With 50 minutes gone United won a penalty after Lee Lynch slipped the ball through to Mark O’Brien who was bundled over by Ross Gaynor. Dave Rogers the new Drogheda captain, who can count Dundalk among his former clubs, stepped up and rattled the net with his spot kick for the lead.
Drogheda were looking comfortable at this stage. However, as they pushed forward in search of a third goal they were badly caught when Mark Griffin sent a long ball down the middle for Jason Byrne who showed all his guile by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Steven Trimble for the equaliser.
DROGHEDA: Trimble, Quigley, Hand, McNally, Rogers, Lynch, Gannon, McMahon (O’Brien, 38), Corcoran, Mulvenna, Brennan.
DUNDALK: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, McHugh, Kearns, Quigley, Byrne (Breen, 78), Gaynor, Bolger, Ward (Maher, 62), Griffin.
Referee: R Winter (Dublin)
