Late Pierrot strike for Drogs denies Derry

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda United 2 Derry City 2

Frantz Pierrot’s late goal denied Derry City the opportunity to make a serious dent in Shelbourne’s lead at the top of the Men’s Premier Division as Drogheda claimed an unlikely point.

Will Patching’s goal looked to have moved Derry to within three points of the Premier Division summit but Ruaidhri Higgins’ team failed in their attempt to win back-to-back league games for the first time all season at Weavers Park.

The English midfielder had taken some time to hit his goalscoring stride this season but after scoring last week, he repeated the trick. The same could be said for Drogheda’s Haitian striker Pierrot but his 86th minute curler was a beauty and had Brian Maher well beaten.

Warren Davis’ first goal of the season set Drogheda on their way with just three minutes on the clock. He finished from Oisin Gallagher’s low cross into the six-yard box.

That looked to be as good as it got for Kevin Doherty’s team who still have now won just once in the league this season and in 14 matches dating back to last September. The draw however will buoy them.

They suffered a double blow when losing both Andrew Quinn and Evan Weir to injury within minutes of each other in the first half. As the home side dealt with the change in personnel, Derry struck.

Daniel Kelly found Paul McMullan and he stood up a cross to the back post where Michael Duffy headed in. David Webster was introduced at half time as Doherty further shuffled his pack but by then, his team were behind.

Patching scored in first-half injury time, producing a gorgeous curling shot into the top corner. Drogheda allowed him all the space he required and more in midfield to get a shot away. Giving that to a