Stradbrook jinx strikes again for Drogheda
CIARAN Kelly’s stoppage-time equaliser saved 10-man Drogheda from a disastrous defeat but proved scant consolation as the Stradbrook jinx struck again on Friday night.
The Boynesiders have never won at Cabinteely’s home venue and even on the back of their fantastic FAI Cup victory over Shamrock Rovers the week before they toiled and ultimately were fortunate to come away with a point.
Whether the draw will be good enough in terms of Drogheda’s play-off ambitions remains to be seen, but results from elsewhere over the weekend weren’t exactly favourable.
Finn Harps and Shelbourne are almost certain to finish in the top three after they both won, while leaders UCD’s draw at Cobh isn’t necessarily good news as it leaves them needing a result in their next league outing at United Park to remain in charge of their own destiny.
On the plus side, pre-season title favourites Galway are all but mathematically out of the equation following their heavy defeat by Longford. However, the midlanders’ resurgence puts some added pressure on Drogheda as those two sides still have to meet in what could effectively decide who finishes in the last available play-off position.
There was surely no sense of complacency going into this tricky-looking fixture against a Cabinteely side who had already defeated UCD, Shelbourne and Longford on their own patch as well as edging out the Drogs 3-2 back in March.
Playing into the teeth of a strong wind blowing from the clubhouse end, the away side were pinned back in the early stages as Kieran Marty Waters fired over from distance and Kevin Knight headed a decent chance wide from a Karl Manahan corner kick.
However, the Drogs soon got their passing game going and a Jake Hyland header from a tight angle seemed to strike the upright after Sean Brennan had swung in a corner kick to the back post.
A good move involving Colm Deasy and Chris Lyons ended when Conor Kane sent a cross fizzing across the six-yard area, and on the quarter-hour Deasy, Brennan and Mark Doyle combined to set up Richie Purdy who fired just over the bar from just inside the box.
What followed was a calmitous two minutes in which Cabo struck twice against the run of play.
Cabo right-back Dan Blackbyrne took advantage of a Kane slip before swinging a cross in along the edge of the penalty area towards Manahan. The number 29 hit a fresh-air shot initially, which should have afforded Drogheda the chance to clear, but the youngster was quick to seize on the loose ball and bury it low past Paul Skinner.
Worse was to follow as Hyland was all too easily dispossessed by Waters who released Keith Dalton in the inside right position. Even then Luke Gallagher seemed to have the situation under control as he tracked back and got goal side of the former Dundalk player, but he just didn’t get close enough and Dalton beat Skinner with an- other crisp finish for 2-0.
By comparison the second quarter was very uneventful as Cabo maintained a good shape and kept Drogheda away from their own penalty area. That was until the 41st minute when Doyle headed well wide from a fine cross by Deasy.
The hosts looked dead certs to go into the interval with that comfortable cushion intact, but with time almost up Purdy and Lyons combined to release Doyle and he was bundled over in the box by Blackbyrne.
Who else but Brennan stepped up and stroked the coolest of penalties past former teammate Stephen McGuinness for his 10th goal of the season.
That should have settled Drogheda down, but when the second half started they were ragged for a five-minute spell, during which Cabo were off target with two chances and saw another - from Jack Watson - deflected wide.
The Drogs had William Hondermarck on the field at this stage for Kevin Farragher, who had conmplained of dizziness, and the youngster made his most significant contribution just after the hour mark. Brennan and Purdy created space for the France native to drive down the right flank before firing a brilliant cross along the six-yard line.
However, Hyland was unable to connect at full stretch at the near post and Doyle arrived just too late in behind his captain to get a decisive touch.
Another chance went begging on 71 minutes as Brennan worked the ball to the endline before teeing up Doyle who hooked his shot narrowly over the bar.
As the Drogs became increasingly desperate, Cabo began to look ever more dangerous on the break and Manahan left Brennan trailing in his wake before releasing Waters. However, with just Skinner to beat, the striker was foiled by a brilliantly timed sliding challenge from Kelly.
Back came Drogheda as Gallagher sent the ball long towards Doyle and he flicked it on towards Brennan who headed wide from close range.
Brennan then sent a low free kick towards Lyons and he teed up Gallagher whose 18-yard shot was blocked by the well-drilled Cabo defence.
Time was running out at this
stage and Drogheda’s hopes of salvaging a draw looked to have evaporated when Deasy clattered into Monahan and earned himself a second yellow card.
Cabo had a chance to make sure of all three points soon after as Robert McGee blasted over the bar, but in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time the 10 men created one final opportunity.
Centre-half Kelly had been pushed up as an extra attacker moments earlier, and so when Brennan sent the ball long to Doyle via Lyons, the defender was ideally positioned to run onto the winger’s pass just outside the box.
What followed was still mightily impressive, though, as the big man took a touch before rifling an angled shot low and hard past McGuinness for 2-2.
The celebrations that followed were as much of relief as celebration, however, and at the final whistle neither Cabo or Drogheda could be happy with a point. Indeed, Knight - perhaps complaining that the referee had played slightly more than the four minutes allowed for stoppages - saw red for his protest.
Cabo could have no argument on that score - they made two substitutions after the fourth official’s board had gone up which would account for the extra minute - but the body language in the Drogheda camp spoke a thousand words as they reflected on an opportunity lost to take a big step towards the play-offs.
Cabo’s three remaining games are against Drogheda’s chief playoff rivals and the Boynesiders will be hoping Pat Devlin’s charges can spring another surprise or two along the way.
However, Tim Clancy’s men will need to focus on themselves and accruing enough points to ensure they finish in the top four.