DISGRACEFUL SIGHT
Watch: Violent scenes as Dundalk and Drogheda United fans brawl on the pitch after final whistle
One side was more to blame for the terrible sight that unfolded
DUNDALK’S Louth derby win over Drogheda United at Oriel Park last night was marred by a 40-man brawl sparked by a pitch invasion by visiting fans.
Daryl Horgan scored twice as the Lilywhites won 4-2 but both clubs can expect to hear from the FAI after the shocking melee.
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Dundalk had scored just four goals at home all season but netted four in one night to claim the bragging rights in the Wee County derby.
And the victory has huge ramifications for the relegation fight as the Lilywhites moved five points clear of their rivals at the bottom of the table.
Jad Hakiki, Ryan O’Kane and two Daryl Horgan goals did the damage for Dundalk.
Dundalk are four points off safety — second bottom goes into the promotion-relegation play-offs — with 12 games left.
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But in a season when they are on their third manager, their fourth keeper and have struggled for goals, a big win proved more than a little comfort.
It was not plain sailing as their defence gave Drogs sights of goal, with debut goalkeeper Felix Goddard tested.
But having scored just four times at Oriel Park this term, doubling that tally in 90 minutes — and in a relegation six-pointer with their neighbours — gave most of the crowd reason to cheer.
Drogheda have won just three games all season and were let down by a section of their support after the game, as a group of idiots ran on to the pitch and goaded Dundalk supporters, resulting in several scuffles before Gardaí moved in.
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On the pitch, the visitors were undone when Dundalk raced into a two-goal lead after 16 minutes.
Hakiki scored the opener on eight minutes when he glanced home Robbie Benson’s cross after Andrew Wogan could not hold on to an O’Kane effort from distance.
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Eight minutes later, O’Kane got on the score sheet with a similar effort.
The ball squirted loose off Luke Heeney as he nicked the ball away from Benson.
But O’Kane struck first-time and he bent it inside Wogan’s left-hand post.
Dundalk were in dreamland, but Drogs were not out of it.
Douglas James-Taylor headed off target and Shane Farrell shot wide.
They got back in the game on 36 minutes when James-Taylor headed home a Darragh Markey cross.
The on-loan Walsall striker carved a half-chance just before half-time, only to have the ball deflected wide.
Yet at the other end, O’Kane continued to torture the Drogs’ backline, ably assisted by Benson.
And, as the game got more stretched in the second half, the hosts were getting more sights of goal.
Eoin Kenny was denied one-on-one by a fantastic Wogan save.
And on 56 minutes, Kenny turned provider, playing a neat one-two with Horgan as he burst into the box to drive the ball home.
Drogs’ Frantz Pierrot twice headed off target but the points were wrapped up four minutes from time when Horgan scored with a 25-yard left-foot drive.
Drogs did pull one back as James-Taylor fired home from the spot after Daniel Pike upended Heeney.
SUN STAR MAN
Ryan O’Kane (Dundalk)
DUNDALK: Goddard 7; Mountney 7, Animasahun 7, Faulkner 7, Keogh 7 (Pike 72, 6); Benson 8, Doyle 5 (McGill 10, 7); Horgan 7, Hakiki 7 (Mulligan 78, 6), O’Kane 8 (Mahon 78, 6); Kenny 7 (Gullan 72, 6).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Wogan 6; Quinn 6, Webster 5 (Pierrot 59, 6), Keaney 6, Kane 7; Foley 6 (Davis 59, 6), Ahui 6 (Brennan ht, 6), Heeney 7, Farrell 6; Markey 6 (O’Brien 63, 6); James-Taylor 6.
REFEREE: R Hennessy (Limerick) 4.