Derry City drop more points as Drogheda confirm safety

Airtricity League Premier Division

Drogheda United 0 Derry City 0

Drogheda United denied Derry City a vital win in their attempts to catch Shamrock Rovers, as Ruaidhri Higgins team dropped points for the third time in four games.

Their title tilt appears all but over. Drogheda, meanwhile, secured the point that gave them official confirmation of their place in the Premier Division next season.

With Rovers not in action for two weeks, the Candystripes arrived on Boyneside knowing victory would have reduced the gap at the top to two points, albeit with the unignorable caveat of having played one game more.

The boost of having a fit again Conor Keeley at their disposal was soon wiped out when the teams were revealed, and Player of the Month nominee Dayle Rooney was absent. Ruaidhri Higgins’ named an unchanged team after his side put six past relegated UCD seven days previously.

Derry were dominant in the early stages and their first sight at goal came when in-form Will Patching just cleared the crossbar with a well struck free kick. Paul McMullan tested Andrew Wogan too, but the young goalkeeper was alert to save at his near post after the winger ran onto Sadou Diallo’s forward ball.

After the first half entered a prolonged lull, Derry almost went in front just prior to the break. Michael Duffy pulled back for Danny Mullen but, again, Wogan dived low to deny him at the near post. It wasn’t as clean a strike as the forward would have liked, in any case.

With four games to play, Drogheda began the evening 12 points clear of Cork City, all but safe. A point would confirm their place in the Premier Division for 2024 but their attacking threat was limited.

If they were to hurt Derry, their threat was likely to come from