Dundalk leave it late to edge out Drogheda United at Oriel Park

Substitute John Martin popped up with a stoppage time winner to save Dundalk's blushes as they claimed their first win in 44 days against 10-man Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park.

It looked as though Kevin Doherty’s side had earned themselves an unlikely point when goals from Dayle Rooney and Freddie Draper cancelled out first half strikes from Ryan O’Kane and Patrick Hoban for the hosts.

Both those goals for the Boynesiders came after they had influential midfielder Gary Deegan dismissed on 51 minutes for a second bookable offence.

Failure to beat their county rivals would have meant a worst run of form for Dundalk since 2012 but up popped Martin to scramble home in the 91st minute to ensure a first win for his side since they had beaten Drogheda Utd in the reverse fixture at Weavers Park on 16 March.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

It was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides and they almost hit the front on 19 minutes when Darragh Markey broke through one on one only to be denied by a superb stop from Nathan Shepperd.

Dundalk's first half chance would arrive three minutes later when Hoban headed down for Rayhann Tulloch inside the box but the on-loan West Brom winger couldn’t find the target.

Hoban would then turn provider for the opening goal on 23 minutes when he played a brilliant through ball for O’Kane to race onto with the teenager bursting past Conor Keeley and Evan Weir to slot past Colin McCabe.

Within five minutes it was 2-0 with Hoban volleying home his second of the season despite two Drogheda defenders on the line after McCabe could only parry clear a flick on from Johannes Yli-Kokko from Keith Ward’s pass.

The home side then went close again three minutes before the break when Robbie Benson’s cross from the left