Galway Utd 2 Drogheda Utd 3:Drogheda United survived a stern examination in a tense Terryland Park thriller as Eamon Zayed grabbed a dramatic winner.
Drogheda had demonstrated their vast potential in an interesting opening period. Two opportunistic goals from attackers Glen Fitzpatrick and Declan O'Brien steered Paul Doolin's charges into a commanding advantage.
Fitzpatrick clipped a precise second minute strike past the advancing Galway goalkeeper Gary Rogers as Drogheda briskly seized the initiative. Just before the half hour mark Declan O'Brien doubled the advantage when glancing a sweet Richie Baker cross to the back of the Galway net.
Galway replied in first-half stoppage time through Stephen O'Flynn's close-range finish. And when Stuart Byrne was dismissed in the 58th minute, Galway poured forward in search of an equaliser.
It arrived 12 minutes from the end of lively battle when Alan Murphy remained ice cool under crushing pressure.
Drogheda refused to be perturbed and Zayed emerged as the hero when netting the decisive goal at the death.
GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; James, Charles, Nootimer, Tracy (Armstrong, 32); Cooke, Foley, Lester, Murphy (Russell, 88), O'Brien; O'Flynn (Moran, 82).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor (Vilmunen, 64); Lynch, Gavin, Shelley, Webb; Baker, Robinson, Byrne, Cahill; Fitzpatrick (Whelan, 64), O'Brien (Zayed, 81).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer
