Drogheda Stay Top, Dundalk Held in Oriel Thriller

Drogheda Stay Top, Dundalk Held in Oriel Thriller

Ardee News and Sport – Drogheda Stay Top, Dundalk Held in Oriel Thriller

Top-of-the-Table Drogheda Dig Deep to Hold Pat’s in Premier Division Stalemate

Bumper Crowd at Sullivan & Lambe Park Watch Drogheda United Stand Tall Against St Patrick’s Athletic in 0-0 Draw

Drogheda United proved once again that they’re no flash in the pan, holding St Patrick’s Athletic to a goalless draw in front of a sold-out Sullivan & Lambe Park to remain top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division—at least for now.

With 2,546 fans packed into the historic ground—its biggest league crowd in recent memory—Kevin Doherty’s side showed grit, organisation, and attacking threat in equal measure against one of the league’s most formidable outfits.

Among the crowd was none other than Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, making his first visit to Drogheda after a delayed flight redirected him from his original plans to attend Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers. Hallgrimsson wasn’t the only familiar face—his predecessor Stephen Kenny also prowled the touchline, overseeing St Pat’s in a match where they once again struggled to find the net by the Boyne.

This was a significant weekend for Drogheda. Coming off a Good Friday draw with champions Shelbourne, this Easter Monday clash with pre-season favourites St Pat’s was expected to test the Drogs’ mettle—and they answered emphatically.

From the off, Drogheda looked sharp despite the short turnaround. Owen Lambe tested the waters early with a wayward shot, while Shane Farrell nearly caught Joseph Anang off guard with a looping effort. The home side’s intensity didn’t wane, driven by the relentless energy of Thomas Oluwa and the in-form Warren Davis, who has now found the net five times in his last six outings.

The pair kept the Saints’ defence pinned back for much of the game, drawing fouls and worrying the visitors. Davis in particular was a thorn in the side of Tom Grivosti and Al-Amin Kazeem, even having a late penalty shout waved away after a seemingly clumsy challenge from the former.

St Pat’s, to their credit, did have moments. Joe Redmond’s first-half header flashed just wide, and a late strike from substitute Barry Baggley was well held by Luke Dennison. But for the third time in a row at this ground, the Inchicore side failed to score—a record that will concern Kenny as his side continues to misfire on the road.

While the goals didn’t come, the performance was another feather in Drogheda’s cap, proving that their presence at the summit is no fluke. Eleven games into the campaign, and they continue to mix it with the division’s elite.

Match Summary:

Drogheda United 0 – 0 St Patrick’s Athletic

SSE Airtricity Premier Division – Sullivan & Lambe Park

Attendance: 2,546

Drogheda United XI: Dennison; Quinn, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe (Ahui 87), Brennan (Heeney 64), Farrell, Kane; Markey; Davis, Oluwa.

St Pat’s XI: Anang; McLaughlin, Redmond, Grivosti, Kazeem (Mulraney 70); Forrester (Baggley 70), Lennon, Kavanagh (Leavy 63); Elbouzedi (Carty 80), Melia, McClelland.

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan

Next up for Drogheda: a trip to Derry City, as they look to continue their remarkable run and prove that their stay at the top of the table isn’t temporary—it’s intentional.

Late McLaughlin Strike in Oriel Park Thriller Cuts Dundalk’s First Division Lead

Aaron McLaughlin’s 90th Minute Equaliser for Finn Harps Throws Title Race Wide Open

Dundalk’s grip on the top of the SSE Airtricity First Division table loosened on Easter Monday evening as a late strike from Aaron McLaughlin earned Finn Harps a dramatic 1-1 draw at Oriel Park, cutting the Louth side’s lead at the summit to just three points.

Having already dropped points for just the second time this season away to Treaty United on Good Friday, Ciarán Kilduff’s Dundalk side were hoping to bounce back swiftly and reassert their dominance. And for a moment, it looked like they had.

A towering header from 17-year-old Vinnie Leonard in the 81st minute—his first senior goal—gave the home crowd reason to believe. The teenager rose highest to meet Sean Keogh’s pinpoint corner, finally breaking down a resolute Harps defence after a game filled with half-chances and missed opportunities.

However, the home support was silenced just nine minutes later when a costly error by Keogh turned the tide. A short back-pass intended for veteran goalkeeper Peter Cherrie was intercepted by Aaron McLaughlin, who coolly slotted home the equaliser in the 90th minute, extending Finn Harps’ unbeaten run to six games and igniting fresh hope in the chasing pack.

Despite Dundalk enjoying the lion’s share of possession and creating more opportunities over the 90 minutes, they couldn’t convert dominance into goals. Kevin McHugh’s Harps had the best of the early chances when Gavin McAteer blazed over from six yards after just two minutes.

In the second half, Harps pushed again, with David Aziaya forced into action to deny Conor O’Keeffe before Leonard’s goal seemed to swing the tie in Dundalk’s favour.

Kilduff’s men had looked solid for much of the season but the back-to-back slips over the Easter weekend suggest nerves may be creeping in, with the pressure of promotion and a title run-in building.

With Wexford and UCD close behind, Dundalk will need to rediscover their early-season form quickly if they’re to stay in control of the First Division title race.

Match Summary:

Dundalk 1 – Leonard (81’)

Finn Harps 1 – McLaughlin (90’)

Dundalk XI: Cherrie; Dervin, Animasahun, Leonard, Keogh; Groome, Paraschiv (O’Keeffe 57); Gaxha, Ward (Kenny 57), Horgan (Tracey 89); Ebbe (Arubi 70).

Finn Harps XI: Aziaya; Place, Hutchison, Tourish, Cullen; Jordan (Hodgins HT), McNamee; Gilmore (McLaughlin 76), McAteer, Lomboto (Ferry 64); McGuinness.

Referee: Gavin Colfer.

Next up for Dundalk is a crucial clash against promotion hopefuls Longford Town, where Kilduff will demand a return to winning ways—and fewer defensive lapses.