Derry City’s title hopes dealt major blow in goalless draw with Drogheda

Drogheda United 0 Derry City 0

Derry City striker Will Patching shows his frustration

Derry City’s League of Ireland title hopes are hanging by a thread after a scoreless draw with Drogheda United.

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side remain five points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, who have a game in hand. The Brandywell outfit have just three matches left to play in the Premier Division campaign.

The Candystripes had the better chances at Weavers Park but couldn’t find a way past a resilient and organised Drogheda.

Will Patching fizzed a free-kick just over the crossbar on 12 minutes before Derry drew the first save out of Andrew Wogan. Sadou Diallo launched a ball forward that Paul McMullan raced onto, but from a tight angle his shot was pushed behind by the 17-year-old shot-stopper.

Diallo fired straight at the keeper from distance on 22 minutes before Brian Maher got hands on an Adam Foley shot.

There was a frantic end to the first half as Luke Heeney did well to pick out Kyle Robinson with a ball in behind, but the striker couldn’t control it when one-on-one with Maher and the City goalkeeper cleared.

Derry should have taken the lead on 49 minutes when McMullan played an inch-perfect pass for Danny Mullen in acres of space inside the box, but he drilled wide of the right post.

Darragh Markey shot into the chest of Maher before another big chance for Derry. Wogan came out of goal but didn’t get there ahead of McMullan, who picked out Patching, but with the net empty he dinked it over.

At the other end, Kyle Robinson flashed wide before the woodwork denied Derry on the hour. Patching’s floated free-kick was met by sub Sam Todd but his header crashed off the post.

Wogan was Drogheda’s saviour again on 70 minutes when he denied