Drogheda United secure Premier Division status with play-off win ...
FAI Cup celebrations can begin in earnest for Louth club after Tallaght Stadium win
Drogheda may have had to put their FAI Cup celebrations on the back burner this week but they spoiled Bray Wanderers’ party and got the job done to retain their Premier Division status for 2025.
Their promotion/relegation play-off victory caps off a stunning six days for the Louth club, as after the highs of securing a first FAI Cup since 2005 last Sunday, and Conference League football next year, they returned to league action and saw off the Seagulls to remain in the top-flight next season.
Kevin Doherty said on the eve of the Tallaght Stadium clash that he’d “never forgive” himself if Drogheda didn’t prepare right for the challenge of First Division Bray, but there was no signs of any post-Lansdowne Road hangover here as a Frantz Pierrot brace either side of the break followed James Bolger’s opener in front of a 5,573-strong crowd.
The party can now really begin for Drogheda after a dream end to the 2024 campaign with the pair of final victories. A well earned victory deserves a long-awaited proper celebration.
But for Bray, who were last in the Premier Division in 2018, their wait for promotion goes on as they prepare for another campaign in the First Division next term.
Paul Heffernan’s side had their chances but just didn’t do enough to test the Drogheda goal in truth. Harry Groome’s fabulous long-range effort cut their deficit to two on 62 minutes, but Bray couldn’t capitalise further with Drogheda deserving winners.
Having seen off UCD and Athlone Town to go one step from promotion, this one will hurt for all at the Carlisle Grounds.
Backed by a raucous travelling support, Drogheda started well as Pierrot sent his shot just wide inside the opening minutes, but Bray soon settled as Darren Craven saw his effort sail over the bar.
But on 17 minutes Drogheda suffered a big blow as Shane Farrell, who starred in their triumph over Derry City last week, was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.
It almost went from bad to worse for the Louth outfit as moments later, Shane Griffin’s free-kick found the head of Cristian Magerusan, but the Romanian forward was denied by a fine save from Drogheda’s Luke Dennison.
A strong run from Drogheda left-back Conor Kane on 25 minutes helped tee up Douglas James-Taylor on the right flank, but the forward’s cross bounced off Pierrot on the line and out of play.
Given what was on the line here, the first goal was always going to be crucial and it went the way of Drogheda as Bolger found the bottom corner just after the half-hour mark.
The ball appeared to strike James-Taylor’s arm in the build-up, but the Bray protests were drowned out by the elation of the east stand.
A good start turned into a dream start as just four minutes later, Pierrot doubled Drogheda’s lead.
Great work from Elicha Ahui, who won Player of the Match in the FAI Cup final, in the build-up helped find Darragh Markey on the right wing.
He fired his cross towards the feet of Pierrot as the Haiti striker produced a spectacular backheel flick to beat Jimmy Corcoran and put his side two to the good.
After conceding twice in four minutes, Bray came back again as Dennison needed to be alert to make a strong stop from Magerusan’s driving effort.
As they entered the break two behind, Bray needed to respond after the restart to make their way back into the contest but they endured a nightmare start as Drogheda found a third on 52 minutes.
In almost a carbon copy of their second goal, Markey worked hard to win back possession off Craven and send in another dangerous cross towards Pierrot, who cleverly flicked the ball up to himself and volleyed into the bottom corner for his 13th goal of the season.
From there it looked a long way back for Bray but they did pull a goal back just after the hour mark through Groome, who drove up the pitch from deep and hit a piledriver past Dennison from 25 yards.
But there was to be no big comeback from the Wicklow side. Drogheda defended strongly to hold onto their two-goal lead, with Dennison doing well to save from Magerusan’s late header as that was as close as Bray came to setting up a nervy finish.
After an historic FAI Cup triumph at Lansdowne Road last weekend for Drogheda, up the road in Tallaght here, this was all about getting the job done and this was a job well done.
FAI Cup secured, Europe secured and Premier Division status now secured, finally the party can begin.
Bray Wanderers: Corcoran; Murphy, Omorehiomwan, Cantwell, Nolan; Craven (O’Neill 79), Groome; Almirall (Feeney 46), Griffin, O’Sullivan; Magerusan.
Drogheda United: Dennison; Quinn, Webster, Bolger; Ahui, Farrell (Heeney 17), Brennan, Kane, Markey; Pierrot (Davis 81), James-Taylor (Foley 72).
Ref: N Doyle.
