5 hours Ago By Diarmuid O'Carroll
FRANTZ PIERROT’S brace saw Derry City blow ANOTHER chance to keep pace with league leaders Shelbourne — falling to a shock defeat against Drogheda United. Ruaidhrí Higgins suffered a major setback pre-match with Will Patching ruled out through injury. But this result could prove terminal to their chances of ending a 27-year wait for Premier Division success.
Former Athlone Town man Pierrot’s second-half double did the damage and moved the Drogs eight points clear of bottom place too. Shels have won just once in eight league games but Derry have utterly failed to punish them. Patrick Hoban — last week’s injury time penalty saviour against Shamrock Rovers — was recalled as Derry shuffled their pack.
But Drogheda gaffer Kevin Doherty does not tend to make many changes to his starting XI these days. Once again, he kept the same team from Monday’s draw against Galway United for the visit of the Candystripes to Weavers Park. The first half was even enough and the best chances were shared.
Higgins’ decision to pair Hoban with Danny Mullen up top was an attempt to test United’s back three. But the best they conjured up was a Mullen volley that was heading wide of the net before Hoban’s header redirected it on target. It was straight at Dennison though and the ex-Dundalk targetman was denied an 11th career goal against Drogheda.
The opener finally arrived just after the hour and it was a mess of Derry’s own making. Andre Wisdom’s back pass gifted the ball to Douglas James-Taylor. The Walsall loanee slipped it into the path of Pierrot and with Brian Maher off his line, Pierrot beat the goalkeeper from just outside the box.
The Haitian striker scored a late leveller against Derry at United Park back in April. But he was sent off against the Candystripes in the last meeting between the sides three months ago. The opener was Pierrot’s ninth league goal of the season and his tenth arrived just ten minutes later.
Drogs skipper Ryan Brennan swept a pass out wide towards James-Taylor. The on-loan striker spun Ciarán Coll and raced forward before squaring across the six-yard box. Pierrot beat Wisdom to it and applied the simple finish.
Higgins was already preparing a triple substitution before United’s second and on came the cavalry. Sub Colm Whelan curled a shot wide when the ball broke to him in the area. Patrick McEleney saw a low shot comfortably saved by Dennison before that.
And James Bolger was called on to make a crucial block to deny Danny Mullen. But the home goal was hardly under siege. Things did get nervy though when City pulled a goal back with seven minutes of normal time to play.
Sub Sean Robertson, a summer arrival from Forest Green Rovers, cut inside and delivered a cross from the left. Andy Quinn was the unfortunate defender, heading into his own net. With Dundalk losing at Oriel Park, even a point would have extended Drogheda’s cushion above their near neighbours.
But they hung on for all three. SUN STAR MAN: Frantz Pierrot (Drogheda United) DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 7; Quinn 6, Webster 7, Bolger 7; Ahui 7, Brennan 8, Farrell 6, Kane 6; Markey 6 (Heeney 78, 6); James-Taylor 7, Pierrot 9 (Foley 88, 5). DERRY CITY: Maher 6; Wisdom 5, Connolly 5 (McCourt 89, 5), Coll 6; McMullen 6 (Robertson 72, 7), Diallo 6 (O’Reilly 72, 6), McEleney 6, Davenport 5; Mullen 6 (Whelan 72, 5), Hoban 6, Duffy 7.
REFEREE: R Hennessy (Limerick) 7..
