FAI National League, Premier Division/Bohemians 1; Drogheda Utd 1: Kevin Hunt rescued Bohemians with a late penalty last night as they had to settle for a draw after falling behind to a wonder goal from Mark Quinless. While Bohemians may consider it two points dropped, the fact leaders Shelbourne also drew at Cork City was some consolation.
Hunt was confidence personified as he slotted home from 12 yards after Aidan Lynch had pulled down Paul Keegan with 88 minutes played.
Quinless thought he had given Drogheda a vital win in their relegation battle when scoring a brilliant goal to end their goal drought which stretched back 10 hours since they last scored, ironically also against Bohemians.
Midfielder Quinless, playing as an emergency striker, had given Drogheda the lead eight minutes earlier. Controlling a Brian Kelly ball played into his feet from the left, Quinless left two defenders for dead with a delightful turn before side-footing to the roof of the net.
Bohemians manager Stephen Kenny was sent from the dugout two minutes later when disputing substitute Paul Keegan's goal being disallowed for offside.
In a remarkable finale in which over four minutes were played, Drogheda might have won it at the death but for a goalline clearance by Robbie Doyle from Pat Scully's header.
The last 10 minutes was in stark contrast to much of what went before as Drogheda availed of Bohemians' sluggishness to enjoy large chunks of possession, and no few chances.
Drogheda hadn't scored since the FAI Cup quarter-final draw with Bohemians six games previously, and, incorporating a 3-5-2 formation, it was they who started brightest.
Barry Molloy brought Shay Kelly into action within 50 seconds with a 25-yard shot before Andy Myler crossed to present Quinless with an opening he turned wide.
Bohemians did carve Drogheda open on six minutes; a sweeping move involving Thomas Heary and Dave Morrison put Glen Crowe in on goal, but his well hit effort was parried by Gary Rogers with Lynch blocking Fergal Harkin's follow-up. Harkin then had the ball taken off his toe by Kelly with the goal gaping within a further minute after Crowe lobbed the stranded Rogers.
But Drogheda's bright start was no false dawn as they carved Bohemians open on 13 minutes. Quinless and Danny O'Connor worked the ball to Don Tierney whose shot from an acute angle forced Kelly to touch the ball out for a corner.
Bohemians survived to miss their best opportunity of the half on 38 minutes when Crowe's header, from Doyle's right-wing cross, was somehow turned out for a corner by Rogers.
While Crowe knows he should have scored, Molloy suffered the same emotion a minute before the break when shooting wide from 10 yards after O'Connor's shot deflected perfectly into his path off defender Colin Hawkins.
BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Heary, Hawkins, Oman (McGuinness, 72 mins), Webb (Keegan, 80 mins); Harkin (Ryan, 55 mins), Hunt, Caffrey, Morrison; Doyle, Crowe.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers; Scully, Lynch, Gray; O'Connor, Beesley (Flanagan, 41 mins), Tierney, Molloy, Kelly; Quinless, Myler (Quinn, 92 mins).
Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
