Drogheda book place in FAI Cup final following dramatic victory over ...

Kevin Doherty’s men were made to work for it by a battling Wexford side but, with tie approaching extra-time, Adam Foley’s 92nd minute winner sent Weavers Park into raptures to secure a final date with Derry City to come next month.

Wexford, competing in their first semi-final, were ahead at the break through Aaron Dobbs before two strikes in 12 minutes from substitute Foley and Douglas James-Taylor after the break put the hosts ahead in the tie.

Drogheda’s lead lasted just 120 seconds however, as Dobbs netted his second to level the game again but as the clock ticked towards extra-time, Foley’s second in injury-time proved the difference to send Doherty’s men to the fifth final in their history, in front of 2,543 at Weavers Park.

James Keddy’s Wexford can be proud of a strong display against the Premier Division outfit, with Dobbs impressing with a brace while forward Thomas Oluwa contributed both assists.

But the evening belonged to Drogheda who will target a second FAI Cup win in their history, and first since 2005, having added Wexford to their 2024 Cup run after knocking out rivals Dundalk, Wilton United and Athlone Town to reach the Aviva Stadium showpiece.

After the sides took to the pitch amid a raucous atmosphere with flares and flags - the home support unfurling a huge banner with Drogheda’s town motto ‘God our strength, merchandise our glory’ before kick-off - Wexford had the first chance of the afternoon as striker Mikie Rowe tested Luke Dennison from distance.

Minutes later on the left flank, Oluwa slotted the ball through Andrew Quinn’s legs and produced a superb cross into the home six-yard box, but no yellow shirt was able to meet it, before young defender Sean McHale struck a volley just wide of Dennison’s post as Wexford imposed themselves early on.

Both sides were finding chances hard to come by as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, but Drogheda suffered a huge blow soon afterwards as striker Frantz Pierrot, the club’s top scorer this term with 12 goals, was forced off with a hamstring issue.

Foley replaced the Haiti international before Ryan Brennan saw his header sail just over the bar of Wexford ‘keeper Conor Walsh moments later. Drogheda’s best chance of the half arrived five minutes before the break as Brennan connected with Conor Kane’s fine cross after some good work on the left wing, but the local boy’s header was denied

The Louth side were made to pay for that miss as on 43 minutes, Wexford had their well deserved opener. A superb move down the left flank was started by Ireland U-19 cap Kian Corbally, as he slotted former Shamrock Rovers man Oluwa through into the final third.

The 23-year-old’s excellent cross found Rowe inside the box- his effort was well stopped by Dennison on the line - but striker Dobbs was first to the rebound ahead of James Bolger to fire the visitors into the lead. The Enniscorthy man had his tenth goal of the season, his side had the advantage and the sold-out away support had the moment they were craving.

A big half-time teamtalk was needed for the hosts after a slow opening 45, RTÉ pundit Alan Cawley labelling it as “dreadful”, as Doherty’s men started the second half stronger without necessarily testing Walsh’s goal.

The hosts badly needed a spark to keep their Cup dream alive, as Luke Heeney soon came on for former Shelbourne man Shane Farrell, but it was the earlier substitute who was the one to fire Drogheda level on 65 minutes.

The move started with Elicha Ahui doing brilliantly to dispossess Conor Levingston in the middle of the park, as he found Walsall loanee James-Taylor who then slotted Conor Kane through on the left. The left-back’s cross was cleared to Quinn at the back post, who unleashed an effort that was heading well wide before Foley was there to poke the ball into the net and level the semi-final with his ninth of the season.

James-Taylor has been a leading light for Drogheda since arriving at the club last June, and the 22-year-old had another big moment on 77 minutes when he headed his side into the lead from Darragh’s Markey.

But Drogheda’s lead lasted exactly two minutes as the team from the south east came back in fine fashion, Oluwa and Dobbs combining again with the Wexford skipper bundling the ball across the line from close range to level again.

Wexford went close to a late goal when Dennison came to Drogheda’s rescue to deny Corbally with a fabulous save, but it was Foley who bagged the all-important winner in injury time, turning in Bolger’s knock on to book Drogheda’s ticket for the 2024 FAI Cup final.

The ecstatic Drogheda faithful flooded the pitch at full-time to celebrate with players and staff. These are the days that mean the most, but there are grander stages to come, more memories to be made. Lansdowne Road awaits on November 10th.

Drogheda: Dennison; Quinn, Webster, Bolger, Ahui; Markey, Brennan, Farrell (Heeney 58), Kane; Pierrot (Foley 31), James-Taylor

Wexford: Walsh; Isamala, Temple, O’Malley, McHale (Crawford 94); Lovic (Curtis 75), Levingston, Corbally; Rowe (Boyle 55), Dobbs (Harnett 94), Oluwa.

Ref: Damien McGraith.