Depleted Drogheda earn deserved Derry replay

Drogheda United 2 Derry City 2

Derry City were forced to come from behind to salvage a draw against eight man Drogheda United in a dramatic FAI Cup quarter-final at United Park. The sides will meet again at the Brandywell on Tuesday night.

The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes. Having failed to heed previous warnings, Drogheda allowed Derry too much space in the box and Ryan McBride, controlling a Patrick McEleney cross, nestled his shot in the bottom corner of Schlingermann’s far post.

Derry piled on the pressure in search of a second, but it was Drogheda, with their first chance of the game who levelled on 23 minutes. A Holohan corner to the back post was met by the head of Alan McNally. Stephen Dooley blocked the shot on the line but the defender followed up to poke the ball home for his first goal of the season.

The game took another turn as Drogheda were reduced to 10 men just after the half-hour mark. Peter McGlynn received his marching orders after a dangerous tackle on Dean Jarvis gave Derek Tomney no option but to show the red card.

Two minutes after half-time and again Tomney brandished a red card as Drogheda were further reduced, Shane Grimes dismissed for dissent. Against all the odds, Drogheda hit the front as Gavan Holohan bent a free to the back post and Mick Daly headed past Ger Doherty.

Philip Lowry was the hero for Derry as he scored with seven minutes to go, the midfielder volleyed a shot from close range which beat the frozen Schlingermann.

With 90 minutes on the clock, a third Drog was sent off as Holohan received a second yellow for kicking the ball away. Five minutes of injury time was not enough for Derry to find a winner.

Drogheda United: Schlingermann, Grimes, Doyle, McGuigan, McNally, Daly, Maher (Crowley 73), Holohan, Walshe, McGlynn, O'Neill (G Brady 73)

Derry City: Doherty, Jarvis (Tracey 81), Molloy, McBride, McNamee, McEleney, Lowry, Dooley (Timlin 81), Barry, Patterson, Duffy

Referee: Derek Tomney