Drogheda United FC v. Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 16, Sullivan & Lambe Park, Friday 16th May 2025, kick-off 7.45pm
Winning three games in a row for the first time in almost a
year to send them joint top of the Premier Division table, Derry City will hope
to make it back-to-back away victories when they face third-placed Drogheda
United on Friday. The home side have won just once in their last six games
following a flying start to 2025 but have been leapfrogged by the Candystripes
in the upper reaches of the table. Suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Drogheda
United earlier this year, City will hope to inflict a similar outcome in
Sullivan & Lambe Park on Friday evening.
Derry City:
Derry City made the long journey to Cork last Friday night
with the third worst away record in the Premier Division. Knowing what happened
the last time City won two on the trot, i.e. falling to a 2-1 defeat against
struggling Waterford, there was a wariness around getting too optimistic about
the game against Cork City. On the other hand, City’s unbeaten record against
the Rebel Army stretched back nearly seven years and the home side were struck
with an injury crisis.
Luckily for fans of the Candystripes, that unbeaten record
was extended by another few months. In a first half were City controlled almost
60% of possession, the away side capitalised on their dominance in the early
stages by opening the scoring after just twenty-four minutes. Gavin Whyte,
after taking a looped ball in his stride, floating an inch-perfect cross over the
stranded Tein Troost in the Cork goal. Liam Boyce was on hand, or head, to nod
in his fourth in the red and white jersey. Sam Todd saw a header cleared off
the line on the 40th minute, before Derry went into the break with the
advantage.
The home side found themselves level on the hour mark when a
throw-in, which was taken quickly and about thirty yards ahead of where the
ball went out, found its way to Cory O’Sullivan. The youngster’s ball into the
box was prodded home by Djenairo Daniels, netting his third goal in just five
appearances for Cork City this season, much to the delight of the commentary
team and home fans alike. The Rebel Army were back in the game and pushing to
go ahead.
It was on the 78 minute mark when the words ‘Oh no, it’s 2-1 to Derry City’ were uttered from the co-commentators mouth. He was right too, as Kevin Holt nodded Michael Duffy’s corner into the back of the net to bag his first goal for the club after a big-money move from Dundee United. He had a knack for finding late goals in Scotland and found the winner in Turner’s Cross last Friday. Boos rang out across the stadium when the full-time whistle blew and, less than two hours later, manager Tim Clancy left Cork City.
Tiernan Lynch’s Derry City side showed a different kind of
fight and desire on Friday night, knowing that they’d won just twice on the
road in 2025 and needed three points to stay within touching distance with the
top of the table. From a Derry point of view, it was a great win. After making
the six-and-a-half hour trip to Cork, the Candystripes managed to recover from
a leveller in the second half to win the game after dominating the earlier
stages. It’s the first time since June last year that City have won three games
in a row. That run actually saw Derry pick up four wins on the bounce,
something which we’ll hope to see repeated on Friday night.
Two of Derry City’s high-profile new signings found the
goals in Turner’s Cross, both from headers. That power and aerial dominance is
something which will be a welcome addition to City’s arsenal. Boyce’s goal was
his fourth for the club, levelling him with Danny Mullen in second place of
Derry’s goalscoring table in 2025. Michael Duffy, still top of that list, made
it eight goal involvements for the year when he assisted Kevin Holt’s winner.
Gavin Whyte showed a brilliant first touch and cross for Boyce’s opener,
joining up with Dom Thomas on three goals and assists in 2025.
Friday night was a well-rounded team performance, but the
Candystripes haven’t come away from Munster unscathed. Ronan Boyce and Adam
O’Reilly, two of Derry’s top performers this season, both suffered what looked
to be nasty injuries. Boyce was replaced after 53 minutes when he pulled up
with what looked to be a muscle injury, whilst O’Reilly suffered a heavy blow
to the ribs. The stoppage for O’Reilly’s treatment saw the game played right up
to the 104th minute, but the midfielder was forced to see out the
game as City had used their three substitute windows.
The severity of those knocks is yet to be seen. With Derry
City in the midst of their best run of form in eleven months, they couldn’t
have come at a worse time. It’s likely that Robbie Benson will slot in to
replace O’Reilly in midfield, although City’s lack of recognised right-back
cover could see Drogheda United target that flank with the pace of Dayle
Rooney. Ciaron Harkin may deputise there, although it’ll likely be Hayden Cann
who’s pushed wider should Boyce miss much gametime. Cameron Dummigan, who could slot in at both
right fullback or centre midfield if fit, is City’s other injury omission,
alongside Sadou Diallo. With revenge on the mind following April’s humiliation
in the Brandywell, and last season’s FAI Cup defeat, the Candystripes will be
desperate to claim three points against a high-flying Drogheda United.
Drogheda United:
Fans of Drogheda United have been living somewhere between
Louth and Dreamland for the past six or seven months. Finishing 2024 by beating
Athlone Town to maintain their Premier Division status, a week after beating
Derry City 2-0 in the FAI Cup final, Drogheda United made the decision to go
full-time heading into the 2025 campaign. It’s a decision which has paid off -
Drogheda United have been in the top three since the third week of the season.
Fast approaching the half-way point of the term and Drogheda
are fighting at the right end of the table. It’s only in recent weeks that the
Louth side have begun to stutter – losing two of their last four games. That’s
more than they had done in the previous eleven this year. After fifteen games,
United sit third. Losing just three times all year, whilst winning six and
drawing six, Kevin Doherty’s side are making the most of the topsy-turvy start
to the season. Their 21 goals scored is the second highest in the division,
whilst their thirteen conceded is the second lowest. Always a side who worked
hard for each other and threatened on the counter, they’ve taken that to
another level in 2025.
Losing star striker Frantz Pierrot to Velez Mostar of Bosnia
in the off-season hasn’t turned out to be the loss it threatened. Drogs have
replaced his goals by chipping in from all areas of the pitch. Winger Warren
Davis has scored six in the league this season, while centre back Conor Keeley
has bagged four. Included in said four is a brace against Derry City in their
3-1 second-half annihilation of the Candystripes five weeks ago. Standing at
6’7”, Keeley is a threat going forward as well as a unit in defence.
Attacking midfielder Darragh Markey has four goal
involvements this term, while Ryan Brennan and Thomas Oluwa are next on three
each. Goalkeeper Luke Dennison has been one of the best performing shot
stoppers in Ireland after signing from Bohemians last year, keeping six clean
sheets in 2025. Fellow American full back Owen Lambe is also proving a hit with
the fans after joining from Orange County SC in the winter window. Shane
Farrell is one of the league’s hardest working players in the middle of the
park, whilst defender Andrew Quinn, who opened the scoring in last year’s cup
final, has chipped in with assists away to Bohemians and Sligo Rovers. Farrell
is joint with Derry City’s Carl Winchester as the two players with the most tackles
in the league this year.
Flying full back Elicha Ahui won man of the match in the
2024 FAI Cup final when he last faced Michael Duffy, but has played just four
times this year through injury. Injury has also hampered forward Douglas
James-Taylor’s campaign, although he has returned to the squad in recent
matches. He bagged twelve goals in 2024 after joining Drogheda United on loan
from Walsall in July and scored the winner in the Cup final.
Last week’s 3-0 loss away to Shamrock Rovers shows that
Drogheda United’s form won’t last forever, but sitting in the European places
after fifteen games indicates that they mean business. United will be out to right
the wrongs of Tallaghtmand get their season back on track after winning just
one of their last six.
With European football to look forward to in the summer,
Kevin Doherty’s Drogheda side will want to keep as close to the summit as
possible before the congestion of UEFA Conference League and FAI Cup football
rolls around in July. The manager will be hoping that his side won’t live to
rue those recent dropped points come November. Even if United begin to drop off
in the summer, their form in the first half of the season should hold them in
good stead. They’ll be hoping for a repeat of that 3-1 win in the Ryan McBride
Brandywell in April to get back to winning ways on Friday night.
Round-up:
Derry City, as one of the form teams in the league, will
hope to make it four wins in a row when they travel to Drogheda on Friday
night. The Candystripes have won just one of their last seven games in Sullivan
& Lambe Park but know that victory would open a five point buffer between
the two sides and could put City top depending on results elsewhere.
Drogheda United, on the other hand, will be desperate to
rekindle some of their early-season form to get back to winning ways. Winning
just one of their last six, after winning five of their first nine games in
2025, Kevin Doherty knows that three points against a rival for European spots
could be crucial come of the end of the season. With 22 goals in the last six
meetings between these two since February 2024, you’re guaranteed goals. With league
leaders Shamrock Rovers coming up next for Derry City, a win here would be a
huge statement of intent.
Pól O’Hare – 13th May 2025
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