Keith Cowan

Mar 15, 2022

Jamie McGonigle hit a double as Derry City defeated Drogheda United at the Brandywell. The striker found the net in either half to ensure another three points for the Candystripes, who have now gone five games unbeaten this season. Derry started the game slowly and almost gifted a goal to Drogheda when Will Patching gave the ball away in his own penalty area and Dayle Rooney almost took advantage, only to be denied by Brian Maher who brilliantly parried his shot. Despite that strong start, Drogheda were cut open with Derry’s first attack as Shane McEleney’s pass forward found its way to Jamie McGonigle, who went through on goal and fired the ball beyond Sam Long to make it 1-0 with barely four minutes on the clock. Drogheda struggled to get a foothold in the game after that and they were reliant on their goalkeeper for making a string of good saves, particularly to deny Danny Lafferty who met a pass from McGonigle and drilled the ball goalwards only for Long to stop it brilliantly. Drogheda were hanging on barely as half time approached and they should have been 2-0 down when Shane McEleney’s superb 40-yard pass forward found the run of McGonigle in behind but the striker went for a first-time volley and the ball flashed just wide of goal with Long beaten. Derry had to wait until just past the hour mark to double their lead, and again it was a brilliant piece of instinctive finishing from McGonigle. Another long ball, this time from Cameron Dummigan, put the striker through on goal, and McGonigle side-stepped Long before rolling the ball into the net under significant pressure from Keith Cowan. Daily Headlines & Evening Telegraph Newsletter Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, with our free daily newsletter. Enter email address Sign Up The only downside for Ruaidhri Higgins was that Michael Duffy’s long-awaited return from injury was cut short, the midfielder lasting less than 10 minutes before being carried off after a strong challenge from Keith Cowan. Derry City: Maher, Boyce, Toal, McEleney, McJannet, Lafferty, Dummigan, Thomson (Malone 74’), Patching, Kavanagh (Duffy 62’) (Akintunde 73’), McGonigle. Drogheda United: Long, Poynton, Cowan, Massey, Roughan, Foley, Deegan, Nugent (Grimes 80’), Rooney, Markey (Hughes 26’) (Clarke 53’), Williams. Referee: Neil Doyle. Match Rating: 6