SOCCER/FAI Cup third round/ Dundalk 0; Drogheda United 2: A night of pomp and celebration for the hosts but their bitter rivals misread the script by gate-crashing the party to secure an FAI Cup quarter-final ticket with a performance, they will feel, good enough for any pitch, let alone the league's first synthetic surface.
Not only were Dundalk testing out their new €500,000 pitch - set to save them thousands in maintenance costs each season - for the first time, but they were also returning to Oriel Park for the first time since November last.
Dundalk chief executive Seán Connolly paraded many of those responsible for the redevelopment beforehand, but the loudest cheer was reserved for veteran-groundsman Mickey Fox, who has overseen four pitches at Oriel down the years and applied many hours "over and above the call of duty" for this latest project.
Drogheda hosted many of Dundalk's First Division games earlier this season while work was ongoing and Jim Gannon's men, as well as most of the 4,152 in attendance, were keen to "repay" their opponents' hospitality in ruthless fashion.
Despite showing plenty of promise and enterprise, they were rocked by two killer goals at crucial spells in the game. First, Mark Leech scored his fifth of the season three minutes before the break and then seven minutes after the restart, Damian Lynch put the result beyond doubt from the penalty spot.
Both sides had started in lively fashion, although the pace at which the ball zipped off the surface caught players from both sides by surprise. Within minutes that hiccup was overcome and Dundalk, in particular, were adventurous going forward.
Indeed, after just five minutes, Ger McCarthy forced Dan Connor to make a superb reaction save after the striker got ahead of his marker to head Alan Murphy's cross at goal.
The home side enjoyed an early hold in midfield with former Shelbourne player Thomas Morgan breaking up much of Drogheda's best work while also applying a creative touch when searching out those ahead of him.
When Drogheda did get forward they looked menacing. On one such occasion, Leech dispossessed Stephen McGuinness and played in Declan O'Brien but Aaron Shanahan made a smart save to deny the in-form striker.
Both goalkeepers saw plenty of action in an entertaining opening period and the quality of their respective saves was eye-catching. None more so than Shanahan's 24th minute effort when he raced off his line to close down Jermaine Sandvliet who shot hard and low from the edge of the box after neat approach play from Gavin Whelan.
Dundalk's spoiling work in midfield was impressive so in order to bypass it the visitors channelled their attacks down the flanks with Sandvliet and Shane Robinson causing frequent headaches for full backs Shane Grimes and Micky O'Kane.
Some 10 minutes before the break Robinson found the overlapping Lynch and he crossed to Whelan. The midfielder shot as Shanahan was scrambling back across his line but was denied a sure goal by O'Kane who, without knowing too much about it, took the ball full-force in the chest.
Drogheda, by this stage, had gained the advantage in almost every department and it was no surprise when they took the lead. Captain Simon Webb crossed from the left and Leech reacted quickly to stick out a boot and steer the ball past Shanahan from the edge of the six yard box.
Drogheda started the second half as they finished the first and silenced the Oriel crowd with Lynch's spot-kick. He stepped up after Shanahan brought down O'Brien, who was in full flight attempting to steer Leech's through ball around the goalkeeper.
DUNDALK: Shanahan; O'Kane, McGuinness, Marney, Grimes; Hoey, Kelly, Morgan, Murphy; McCarthy, Bracken. Subs: Hughes for Bracken (59 mins), Finnan for Morgan (59 mins), Duffy for Murphy (89 mins). Booked: Kelly (16 mins), McCarthy (73 mins).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Lynch, Gartland, Gray, Webb; Robinson, Keegan, Whelan, Sandvliet; O'Brien, Leech. Subs: Rooney for Leech (83 mins), Ristila for O'Brien (90 mins). Booked: Whelan (21 mins), Keegan (86 mins).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
