DROGHEDA UNITED ended Dundalk's unbeaten home record by pulling off a well deserved 2-1 win in the Louth derby at Oriel Park.

Goals from Dinny Corcoran and Philip Hand did the damage for the Drogs against a Lilywhites side who looked well below their best.

Mick Cooke sprung a major surprise by naming former Dundalk player Tiarnan Mulvenna in his starting XI and the local striker almost made a dream return to Oriel Park, his sixth minute shot forcing Peter Cherrie into a save with his feet.

The visitors thought they had edged in front after 20 minutes when Dinny Corcoran's stinging effort looked to have bounced back over the line after Cherrie had managed to parry the initial effort.

Corcoran had every reason to feel aggrieved but the big centre-forward made sure four minutes later when he rose highest to glance home a Philip Hand free-kick with Cherrie in no man's land.

Hand doubled Drogheda's lead in the 47th minute with a wonderful free-kick which nestled in the top corner from all of 30-yards. And Corcoran almost made it 3-0 after robbing Shane Guthrie on the byline and curling a low effort across goal which Cherrie had to save at full stretch.

Dundalk never got going and although Daniel Kearns set up a nervy finish for the visitors with an 85th minute strike, Drogheda held on for a crucial win

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie (Breen 86), Gaynor; Kearns, Bennett (Duffy 89), Bolger, Ward (N Murphy 34), Quigley; Griffin.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble; Nolan (Thompson 90), McNally, Ekanem, Hand; O'Brien, Gannon, Quigley, Freeman; Corcoran, Mulvenna (Hanaphy 70).

REFEREE: Tom Connolly (Dublin).