Deja vu as Drogheda and Derry play out another 1-1 draw
Drogheda United denied Derry City three points that would have closed the gap on the top two of the Premier Division as another draw struck a blow to Ruaihdri Higgins' team's title aspirations.
United and Derry have played four games in the league now and three of them have ended 1-1, earmarking Drogheda as a side City find it very troublesome to play against.
That much is clear given United’s record against the league’s leading lights this term. They’ve beaten Dundalk twice and earned four points from Shamrock Rovers.
James Akintunde handed the Candystripes a first-half lead but Dayle Rooney’s sublime free-kick earned the Drogs a share of the spoils. It was no less than they deserved as they took the game to Derry in the second half. A win was within their grasp.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ side were boosted prior to kick-off, announcing the sign of Jordan McEneff. The midfielder arrives upon the expiry of his contract at Arsenal and he had spent the first half of the season at on loan at Shelbourne.
The 21-year-old follows in the footsteps of elder brother Aaron, now of A-League outfit Perth Glory, in turning out for their hometown club. McEneff was not signed in time to face Drogheda but Higgins felt the deal, which runs until the end of the season, suits both parties.
Derry arrived in Drogheda having failed to win either of their last two visits, including a defeat late last season. Twice this term, they had taken the lead only to see United peg them back and earn a point. Now, that’s three.
With champions Rovers and Dundalk set to resume rivalries on Sunday, the visit to county Louth presented third-place Derry with an opportunity to further implant themselves into the tussle at the top.
Unbeaten in eight domestically, their upturn