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A draw was a fair outcome to a thoroughly entertaining match that swung one way and then another. Teenager Dare Kareem scored for the second time in four days, his third of an impressive late-season emergence, to hand Drogheda the lead. They might have been further ahead were it not for a failure to make the most of the chances that fell their way. Danny Mullen’s 54th-minute equaliser was against the run of play. It came amidst an unusual build-up to the game, with coach Patrick McEleney and not Tiernan Lynch or his assistant Andrew Mitchell engaging in the pre-match media obligations. Kareem’s volley – from Conor Keeley’s knockdown – was a superb strike, although fortunate to find a route to goal through a mass of bodies. Mullen’s equaliser came at the end of a lightning break. Luke Dennison kept out Brandon Fleming’s effort but could no nothing about Mullen’s. Josh Thomas had his fair share of opportunities and Warren Davis was on the pitch for mere seconds before he touched the ball past Brian Maher. A combination of Mark Connolly, Hayden Cann and the post denied him. At the other end, Mullen then struck the woodwork with six minutes of normal time remaining. Drogheda assistant manager Daire Doyle was shown a red card by referee Rob Harvey after the final whistle. A suspension is coming his way, as is a title for Stephen Bradley’s Rovers. Just not quite yet. Drogheda United: Dennison; Bolger, Keeley, Quinn; Lambe, Brennan, Farrell (Heeney 65), Kane; Markey; Thomas (Stretton 87), Kareem (Davis 70). Derry City: Maher; Cann, Connolly (Dummigan 79), Stott; Boyce, Diallo, Winchester, Fleming; O’Reilly, Duffy; Mullen (White 86). Referee: Rob Harvey
