FIVE POINTS NOW separates Dundalk and Drogheda United at the bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after The Lilywhites recorded a 4-2 Louth derby win. Early goals from Jad Hakiki and Ryan O’Kane put Dundalk in control in this fixture, however Douglas James-Taylor pulled a goal back for Drogheda before the half finished. A second-half brace from Daryl Horgan sealed the deal for The Lilywhites, with James-Taylor’s stoppage-time penalty merely adding respectability to the score for Drogheda.
Not for the first time in recent seasons, the Louth derby was marred by ugly scenes at the full-time whistle, with several members of the travelling crowd making their way out onto the pitch towards their Dundalk counterparts, resulting in violent altercations. Dundalk opened the scoring on eight minutes after Ryan O’Kane – who looked menacing in the early stages – fired a shot which was battered away by Andrew Wogan, but only into the path of Robbie Benson, whose cross from the left was headed home by Hakiki. Drogheda had their first effort four minutes after that concession, with Shane Farrell’s cross being met at the back post by James-Taylor, who could only divert wide of the post.
It was The Lilywhites who made it 2-0 on 16 minutes, however, after Benson’s initial attempt was intercepted by Luke Heeney before it broke to O’Kane, who then produced a beautiful first-time finish into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the area. The visitors desper.