Away victory is just Finn-tastic for the Drogs

only the Boynesiders’ third clean sheet of the season.

Both teams were short a number of regulars, although not all of Pete Mahon’s five changes were enforced as he shuffled the pack after the previous week’s poor display in Limerick.

Absentees included Killian and Sean Brennan as well as Thomas Byrne (international duty) and in came Ciaran McGuigan, Gavin Brennan, Conor Kane, Stephen Elliott and Adam Wixted.

The latter should have fired Drogheda ahead inside the first minute when an Elliott shot was deflected fortuitously into his path eight yards from goal, but the winger couldn’t deal with the awkardly spinning ball and volleyed wide of the target.

The Boynesiders also had an early penalty claim as Richie Purdy went down after ghosting into the box, but referee Harvey wasn’t convinced and play continued.

Mahon’s charges also had a couple of opportunities from set pieces, and from an out-swinging Sean Thornton corner Gareth McCaffrey rose well, but his header from some 15 yards out drifted wide. McCaffrey had another sight of goal on 16 minutes but fired weakly straight into the arms of Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher.

Shortly after the former Rovers man latched onto Ciaran McGuigan’s long clearance and momentarily got goal-side of his marker Fergal Harkin in the box, but the Harps man stuck out a leg to clear the danger.

Drogheda were trying to be inventive and it was encouraging to see Luke Gallagher attack the right flank to win a corner in the 29th minute.

While that came to nothing, the Boynesiders kept their foot on the pedal and grabbed the all-important lead goal barely 60 seconds later.

Purdy and McCaffrey combined to put Elliott away on the left and the veteran striker turned one way and then the other to create space for a cross.

His delivery to the back post could hardly have been better as Wixted diverted the ball back across goal and into the net with a firm header.

Drogheda could have doubled their advantage on 34 minutes when Purdy found McCaffrey in the box and his perfectly cushioned lay-off sat up nicely for Elliott who drove a tame volley straight at Gallagher.

Then Harkin’s foul on Wixted out on the right set up another promising free kick opportunity and Thornton’s delivery picked out Gavin Brennan whose diving header rose just too high.

Harps hadn’t even managed a shot at goal, on or off target, at this stage, but they put that statistic behind them on 40 minutes when Caolan McAleer’s 30-yard effort dipped just over the crossbar, with Stephen McGuinness slightly off his line.

That warning signal wasn’t heeded by the Boynesiders and they found themselves on the back foot for long spells in the second half.

Most of the threat emanated from the much-travelled former Celtic and Derry City man Paddy McCourt and in the opening seconds the former Northern Ireland international worked space for himself before dragging a lot shot wide of the target.

From a rare counter-attack Drogheda claimed for another penalty following Barry Molloy’s challenge on Elliott, but it was the visitors who had a let-off on 54 minutes as McCourt dinked a ball through to Sean Houston who blazed over the bar from close range.

It was a similar story three minutes later as McCourt cleverly drifted along the byeline before pulling the ball back to Mickey Funston who fired wildly over the bar from six yards.

McCourt then had a go himself but couldn’t keep the ball down, before setting up McAleer with another brilliant pass. The number 11 bore down on goal but was hurried into a shot by Drogs left-back Conor Kane and then fired into the side netting.

Drogheda were hanging on at this stage and Brennan was forced to take one for the team when he scythed down Harkin in full flight and was booked, with Harps threatening to break out dangerously from the centre circle.

Their substitute Eddie Dsane was next to see a sight of goal, but again he failed to make McGuinness work and the Boynesiders made their hosts pay dearly for their wastefulness in the 78th minute.

Right-back Colm Deasy loves to get forward and for the first time in the game he popped up just outside the box to take a pass