Friendly: Drogheda United 1 - 1 Limerick

A goal apiece for both Chiedozie Ogbene and Adam Wixted meant that the pre-season meeting of the two clubs promoted from the First Division last season, Drogheda United and Limerick, ended in a 1-1 draw at United Park on Wednesday evening.

It was Drogheda who were on top in the early stages, creating two half chances. First, Marc Griffin escaped down the right but could only miskick his effort into the hands of the waiting Freddy Hall.

Next, Gareth McCaffrey looked to have created a chance for himself down the left but he hesitated and his eventual effort was blocked.

Limerick’s first opportunity of the game came twelve minutes in as Ian Turner’s free kick was saved comfortably by Stephen McGuinness.

From that chance, Drogheda went on the counter attack as McCaffrey played Griffin in one-on-one with Hall but the Drogheda forward again hit his effort straight at the keeper, a theme which would continue for the remainder of the half.

Drogheda almost hit the front a quarter of an hour in as Stephen Dunne’s through ball found Thomas Byrne only for the former Brighton man to send his toe poke effort narrowly past both Hall and the far post.

The game then hit a somewhat quiet spell until the home side again began creating chances in what was a dominant first half display.

This time, it was Griffin playing in Byrne, who sent his effort straight at Hall, before the ball was cleared away by the Limerick defence.

A replica of that chance would be seen just minutes later as Byrne again seen his effort saved comfortably by Hall and cleared by the backtracking Limerick defence.

It was then Limerick who went close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half time with their threatening chance of the match as Rodrigo Tosi’s volley from eight yards went just over the bar.

Both teams made several half-time changes and it was Limerick who took the early lead in the second half as two new signings linked up with Rodrigo Tosi playing in Chiedozie Ogbene on the left, leaving the former Cork City man to produce a tidy finish into the far corner.

That lead didn’t last long however as Drogheda equalised just three minutes later.

Stephen Elliott’s high ball to the back post dropped to Adam Wixted, who sent a volley across goal into the bottom corner, thanks to a deflection on the way through.

Chances were hard to come by for both sides following the two goals, with Limerick player the better football but failing to create any chances of note.

It was Drogheda went close again just after the hour mark as Gavin Brennan’s through ball found Stephen Elliott, who slipped as he took his shot, allowing Brendan Clarke to make the save.

There would be just one half chance in the remainder of the game and it fell to the visitors as the onrushing Stephen Kenny was met by Drogheda goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness, who rushed off his line to slow down the Limerick man before making a good save from Kenny’s eventual shot.

Both teams cancelled each other out for the remaining 15 minutes in what was an even second half but a game in which Drogheda were left to rue a host of missed opportunities in the first half.

Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Colm Deasy (Luke Gallagher 46), Lloyd Buckley (McGuigan 46), Kevin Farragher (Gavin Brennan 46), Stephen Dunne (Jamie Hollywood 71); Killian Brennan (c) (Eoghan Dempsey 35), Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland (Mark Doyle 71); Thomas Byrne (Sean Thornton 46), Marc Griffin (Stephen Elliott 46), Gareth McCaffrey (Adam Wixted 46).

Subs Not Used: Chris Bennion (GK).

Limerick: Freddy Hall (Brendan Clarke 46); Shaun Kelly (Alexander Gardikiotis 65), Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams, Shane Duggan (c) (Clyde O’Connell 65); Chiedozie Ogbene, Paul O’Conor (Bastien Hery 46), Lee-J Lynch, Ian Turner (Killian Brouder 46); Rodrigo Tosi (Garbhan Coughlan 65), Dean Clarke (Stephen Kenny 46).

Subs Not Used: None.

Referee: Unknown.

Attendance: 200 (estimate)