A CRACKING Louth derby finished honours even at the end of a pulsating contest where Drogheda will feel they edged it but had to settle for a share of the spoils.   

United fell behind early on, drew level before the break, went ahead in the second half before conceding a late goal that denied them the win.

The first real chance of the match fell to Dundalk who hit the front with a well worked goal when Daniel Kearns whipped a fine cross into the box which Mark Griffin steered home.

It was all of twenty four minutes before Drogheda stirred as Dinny Corcoran took possession and advanced to the edge of the box before curling his shot narrowly wide.

The ball then fell kindly for Corcoran off defender Dean Bennett and he made the best of his good fortune sending a shot in on goal that Peter Cherrie did really well to tip round the post.

A minute later the home side rattled the woodwork when Alan McNally rose highest to meet Peter McMahon’s only to see his header come crashing back off the bar.

Drogheda’s spell of dominance was eventually rewarded two minutes before half time with a superbly worked goal.

The move began deep in defence with Philip Hand and continued with a sequence of passing involving Tiarnan Mulvenna, Lee Lynch, Corcoran, Philip Hand and Mulvenna once more who sent his shot to the net.

Early on in the second half Corcoran dispossessed Bennett and cracked a shot towards the target which Cherrie pushed to safety.

With 50 minutes gone United won a penalty after Lynch slipped the ball through to Mark O’Brien who was bundled over by Ross Gaynor.  Dave Rogers the new Drogheda captain and who can count Dundalk among his former clubs stepped up and rattled the net with his spot kick.

Drogheda were looking comfortable at this stage, however, as they pushed forward in search of a third goal they were badly caught when Griffin  sent a long ball from defence down the middle for Jason Byrne who showed his wily side lifting the ball over keeper Steven Trimble for the equaliser.

In the latter stages Cherrie saved twice from Corcoran and Mark Quigley had a thunderbolt charged down by a home defender as it careered towards goal as neither side could conjure up a winner at the end of a wonderful match.

DROGHEDA UNITED:  Trimble, Quigley, Hand, McNally, Rogers, Lynch, Gannon, McMahon (O’Brien 38), Corcoran, Mulvenna, Brennan.  

DUNDALK:  Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, McHugh, Kearns, Quigley, Byrne (Breen 78), Gaynor, Bolger, Ward (Maher 62), Griffin.  

Referee:  R. Winter (Dublin)