Drogheda United 0 Derry City 2: A brace of cracking goals from Alan Murphy saw Derry City earn a well-deserved victory over title contenders Drogheda United.
After Murphy struck for the lead goal in the latter part of the first half they never looked back. Their second killed the game off 25 minutes from time.
Drogheda created three early openings. Firstly David Freeman shot wide after a misunderstanding between goalkeeper David Ford and defender Mark McChrystal. A minute later Mark Rooney knocked the ball over the Derry bar from 18 yards. Then Freeman saw his close-range drive blocked by McChrystal.
Derry's first chance arrived with 15 minutes gone when Mark Farren stole into the Drogheda box only to see his shot saved by Dan Connor. United broke for Rooney to race clear and pull his shot across the face of goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The visitors took the lead just short of the half hour mark when Murphy drove home from over 30 yards. Derry should have made it two after 32 minutes when Conor saved from Murphy and Gary Beckett knocked the rebound wide. The home side's best chance of an equaliser before the break saw Stuart Malcolm rap the ball off the Derry bar from just outside the box
Derry made all the running early in the second half as Brian Cash, Murphy and Cillian Brennan had chances. With 65 minutes played Murphy found the net for a second time when, from Cash's blocked shot, the ball fell to him 20 yards from goal and he made no mistake.
Drogheda were unlucky when Stuart Malcolm saw the ball rebound off the Derry bar for the second time. Derry were fortunate not to concede a penalty in stoppage time when Clive Delaney handled in the box.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor, Tyrrell, Webb, Gray, Malcolm, Gartland, Whelan, Ristilla, Freeman, Rooney, Sandvliet. Subs: Bradley for Sandvliet (60 mins), Reilly for Ristilla (67 mins), Leech for Freeman (74 mins).
DERRY CITY: Ford, Hargan, Hutton, Delaney, Doherty, Beckett, Murphy, Brennan, Farran, Cash, McChrystal. Subs: O'Flynn for Beckett (76 mins), Martyn for Murphy (82 mins).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)
