Drogheda United 0 Dundalk 0:NINE-MAN Drogheda battled to a share of the points in the Louth derby last night. A double sending off in the space of nine minutes in the second half made it an uphill task for the home side.

Drogheda were reduced to 10 men when Paul Crowley saw yellow for a second time on 68 minutes and Eric Foley was then sent off after 76 minutes.

United were totally on top early on and Peter Hynes’s deep cross from the right picked out Philip Hand who sent his header over.

Gavin Brennan’s pile-driver from 30 yards was clawed to safety by Dundalk goalkeeper Peter Cherrie. Derek Prendergast’s header was cleared from the line but Dundalk had chances too as Derek Foran’s effort was blocked by Paul Crowley and Michael Rafter get a shot in which Gabriel Sava smothered. In the final minute the visitors almost nicked it as Chris Reilly sent his header narrowly over the bar.

DROGHEDA: Sava, Hand (Marshall 58), Prendergast, McNally, R Brennan, Mulvenna (O’Brien 74), G Brennan, Grimes, Hynes (S Brennan 74), Crowley, Foley.

DUNDALK: Cherrie, Foran, Murphy (Coughlan 78), Burns, Denville, Walsh (Waters 64), Shields, McDonnell, Mountney, O’Neill (Reilly 82), Rafter.

Referee: R. Rogers (Dublin)