Conor Keeley was the hero for Drogheda United

Conor Keeley was the hero for Drogheda United Credit: Jamie McGuinness (ETPhotos)

Conor Keeley rescues draw for Drogheda United against Waterford

Waterford 2 (Thomas Lonergan '19; Padraig Amond '82)

Drogheda United 2 (Warren Davis '24; Conor Keeley '90) 

Drogheda United's ever-present and reliable defender Conor Keeley grabbed a late equaliser for his side at the RSC tonight.

Just as it looked like Waterford were going to record a deserved win, Drogs won a corner in the third minute of stoppage time, the ball was whipped in from the right-hand side, it fell nicely to Keeley at the far post and he fired the ball to the net.           

It was a very even opening quarter. Both sides had half chances but defences were able to deal with the danger. Both keepers had no real saves of note to make either.

The home side took the lead in the 19th minute; Padraig Amond with a lovely pass to Tommy Lonergan and he made it two goals in two games with a fine strike past Luke Dennison.

Minutes later Darragh Markey won a corner for Drogheda; the first of the game. 

Shane Farrell took the kick, Warren Davis rose highest to powerfully head the ball past Stephen McMullan in the Waterford goals.

Davis shot wide in the 39th minute while as half-time approached the home side pressed for a second goal with Lonergan a real threat. 

Some of the delivery into the box was poor and there was nothing to really trouble Dennison.

Grant Horton’s ball found Lonergan in the 66th minute but he hit it over the bar. Minutes later Ryan Burke floated the ball into the box, Amond got a head on to it and it was deflected out for a corner. 

In the 75th minute Lonergan laid the ball off to Sam Glenfield but he fired over the bar.

Waterford were back in front in the 82nd minute; Horton’s ball into the box was cleared to the feet of substitute Dean McMenamy, he took a shot and it was turned into the net by Amond; his sixth goal of the season.

Drogs had offered very little up to that goal and as the clock ticked down they pressed to try and get something out of the game. 

They won a corner in the third minute of stoppage time, Keeley got a touch to it and directed the ball to the back of the net.

 

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke, Karl White; James Olayinka (Dean McMenamy 78), Sam Glenfield (Ben McCormack 85), Conan Noonan; Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan (Maarten Pouwels 88)

Subs not used: Brad Wade, Navajo Bakboord, Jesse Dempse, Sean Keane, Zak O’Sullivan, Maarten Pouwels, Adam Queally.

Booked: Ryan Burke 33, Rowan McDonald 38, Sam Glenfield 83, Grant Horton 85, Stephen McMullan 90+4.

 

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Owen Lambe (Kieran Cruise 61), Andrew Quinn, Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Luke Heeney, Shane Farrell (Zishim Bawa 77), Darragh Markey; Warren Davis, Douglas James-Taylor (Thomas Oluwa 53).

Subs not used: Jack Brady, Bridel Bosakani, Scott Brady, George Cooper, Aaron Harper-Bailey, Dare Kareem.

Booking: Owen Lambe 45+2, Elicha Ahui 90

Sent off: Elicha Ahui 90+6

 

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 2241.

extratime.ie Player of the Match: Conor Keeley (Drogheda United).

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