Derry City brought crashing back down to earth by bogey side Drogheda United

DROGHEDA United brought FAI Cup finalists Derry City crashing back down to earth with a victory at Sullivan & Lambe Park as the Foylesiders' hopes of finishing in fourth position begin to fade with three games to go.

It was Mark Connolly's 10th game as interim boss and just his second defeat, ending a six-game unbeaten run which had breathed new life into the Candy Stripes' campaign.

Derry began the night in fifth spot behind fourth placed Shelbourne but the defeat, coupled with the Dubliners' big win over St Pat's in Inchicore stretched the gap to five points albeit Connolly's troops have a game in hand.

Fourth place means little other than pride for Derry but they will be disappointed with this defeat in the banks of the Boyne having dominated the contest.

Former Derry City midfielder Brandon Kavanagh gave Drogheda a fortuitous lead after just eight minutes, scoring directly from a corner kick which caught out Derry keeper Tom Norcott.

Substitute Mark Doyle then capitalised on another defensive error with seven minutes to go as he raced past Jamie Stott, rounded Norcott and slotted into the empty net to give the Boynesiders real hope of avoiding the relegation play-off.

Drogheda are unbeaten in last eight at the Co. Louth venue against Derry whose last win at the venue came back in May 2023.

Kevin Doherty's troops have been Derry's bogey side and have taken seven points from the Brandywell club in their four meetings in 2026.

After celebrating the FAI Cup semi-final win over Galway last week, this result will be hugely disappointing for the Derry players who will be wondering how they failed to get something from this encounter.

Connolly saw positives as Gavin Whyte made his first appearance since March - his fourth of the season - coming on as a substitute with 15 minutes remaining.

Darragh Markey was also back in the squad for the first time since injuring his Achilles against Drogheda at Brandywell back on June 26th.

Connolly warned his team must park thoughts of November's Cup Final showdown with Waterford as he targetted a fourth place finish in the league and an opportunity to restore pride in a faltering league campaign.

He promised there wouldn't be drastic changes to the team who impressed in the semi-final win over Galway last Saturday and he made just three as Conor Barr, Kevin Dos Santos and Tyler Smith returned to the starting line-up. Adam O'Reilly, Darragh Burns and James Clarke warmed the bench.

Derry invited pressure on themselves in the early stages with Jamie Stott and Patrick McClean both guilty of giving away possession in dangerous areas during a hectic five minute spell. McClean, who was man of the match in Galway last weekend, was sloppy in possession on the left side of the Derry box and conceded a corner.

From ex-Derry midfielder Kavanagh's inswinging cross Norcott came to claim but failed to get his fist on the ball and it sailed into the net to give Drogheda an eighth minute lead.

From then on it was all Derry as they attempted to get back into the contest. Drogheda were fortunate not to be pegged back on 16 minutes when Fynn Talley's clearance went straight to the feet of Ellis Chapman. The Derry midfielder looked up and picked out Duffy in the box who pulled away from his marker but the City skipper blasted high over the bar.

Four minutes later Cameron Dummigan found Brandon Fleming who crossed towards Smith but it was cut out by Leo Burney with his outstretched leg to put it behind.

Just short of the half hour mark Fleming's corner picked out Stott who lunged towards the ball but screwed his shot wide of the target. When Keely lost the ball in his final third on 34 minutes, Dos Santos tried his luck from distance but it was beaten away by Talley.

It was a good spell for the visitors and when the ball was worked towards Dos Santos just inside the Drogheda box, the winger played into the feet of Smith who cut it back onto his left foot and his shot was deflected off Keeney, struck the crossbar and went behind for a corner.

Derry dominated possession and while they had 12 attempts on goal to Drogheda's one, Talley wasn't tested enough and the Boynesiders took a slender lead into the break.

Derry started the second half as they finished the first - on the frontfoot. When the ball broke to Duffy on 53 minutes, the Drogheda defence dropped deep, inviting the winger to shoot and his well struck effort from 25 yards was straight into the hands of the Drogs keeper.

Duffy had two attempts, one with either foot at the edge of the Derry penalty area and he screwed his second strike wide of the right post.

Thomas Oluwa appealed for a penalty when he raced past Stott and went down inside the box after the Derry defender stretched his leg to get a touch on teh ball. Referee Lucas Keating was well placed and waved away the protests; the Drogheda winger received a booking for remonstrating with the official.

On 66 minutes Warren Davis raced past McClean but the Derry defender recovered brilliantly with a last ditch tackle to take the ball away from the Drogheda winger.

Duffy's ferocious 25 yard strike was turned away by Talley moments later and then Whyte came on for Barr for the final 15 minutes of the match—his fourth appearance of the season and his first first-team action since a 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght back in early March.

Drogheda doubled their lead with seven minutes remaining following a defensive blunder from Derry. Dummigan miscontrolled the ball deep in his own half and Stott's attempted clearance went straight to sub Doyle who raced in behind, rounded Norcott and slotted into the net for his 10th goal of the season.

It was a bitter blow for Derry who must quickly turn their attention to hosting title challengers St Pat's at Brandywell on Monday night.

Drogheda United: Fynn Talley, Edwin Agbaje, Conor Kane, Andrew Quinn, Leo Burney, Ethan O'Brien, Brandon Kavanagh (Alfie Bates 69), Thomas Oluwa (Mark Doyle 69), Shane Farrell (Jago Godden 77), Conor Keeley, Warren Davis (Keegan Ancelin 87).

Derry City: Thomas Norcott, Conor Barr (Gavin Whyte 75), Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Cameron Dummigan, Nick Twisk, Ellis Chapman; Kevin Dos Santos (Darragh Burns 63), Tyler Smith (James Clarke 63), Michael Duffy.

Referee: Lucas Keating (Dublin),