SOCCER: Galway Utd 1, Drogheda Utd 2 DROGHEDA staged a dramatic recovery at Terryland Park to eke out their first league win of the season against fellow strugglers Galway United.

Ultimately Galway’s failure to convert chances when in control for most of the opening hour is why they are now rooted to the foot of the table.

Galway settled impressively and Ballinrobe native Alan Murphy flashed a dangerous ball across the Drogheda goal in the 17th minute as Galway were camped in Drogheda territory. Mick Cooke’s charges, though, did spurn a chance on 20 minutes as Galway goalkeeper Greg Fleming produced a splendid reflex save to thwart a deflected Mark O’Brien shot. Then Galway hit the front, punishing Drogheda defensive hesitancy in the 21st minute when Mikey Gilmore pounced to prod Galway ahead.

Ten minutes after the restart Galway came close to adding a second as substitute Enda Curran’s deft chip just went over the crossbar.

But Drogheda summoned a defiant burst in which they nicked two goals to stun the previously dominant Galwegians. Parity was restored in the 63rd minute when replacement Darragh Hannaphy scored following a Darragh McNamara assist. Then Mark O’Brien blasted the visitors ahead on 67 minutes, racing on to a Philip Hand free kick before firing past the advancing Fleming.

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Sinnott, Maher, Walsh, Keogh; Ryan, Feeney (Eduardo, 42), G Kelly (Cash, 70), Moore; Murphy (Curran, 46), Gilmore.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble; C O’Brien, McNally, Ekanem, Hand; McNamara, McCrossan (Thompson, 46), Quigley, M OBrien, Freeman (Hannaphy, 46); Corcoran.

Referee: G Kelly (Cork).