The Commentary Box: 35 scorch marks were left on the Oriel Park pitch

Violence off the field took away from all the good work on the pitch by Dundalk FC on Friday night at the Louth Derby between Dundalk and Drogheda United.

35 scorch marks were left on the pitch after Drogheda supporters continuously threw flares onto the pitch before, during and after the game.

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Seats were also ripped up by the Drogheda fans at the away end, in a night of pure hooliganism and violence. A 12-year-old child sustained burn injuries and was treated for them outside the ground.

Indications of the trouble in Oriel ahead were indicated when Drogheda fans coming off a train threw flares from the station grounds over the gates and onto the Carrick Road. Some hit passing cars.

There are no reports of any passersby being struck by the flares. But as the Drogheda fans gained admission to the ground, the night of flare throwing began almost immediately.

One media outlet says Drogheda fans face the prospect of a stadium ban for their next game. To me, they must face much stronger action from the FAI.

The media reported there were clashes between some Dundalk fans before and after the game. I can not confirm this. Anything I saw, it was Drogheda fans who were involved.

But I would not be surprised at the reports that both sets of fans clashing. There are hooligans attached to both sets of clubs. I have been told that Drogheda fans were attacked at Dundalk railway station as they entered the car park.

This was the reason why Gardai subsequently closed the gates. One regular user at the station told me he had never seen the gates of the station being closed in a situation like this.

The fact that a 12-year-old child sustained some burn injuries is what is most worrying. He is believed to be a Drogheda fan. A dozen flares were thrown onto the pitch before kick-off.

More were thrown when Drogheda equalised two minutes from time. It was a shocking night for football. I am sure both clubs have questions to answer.

But it is Drogheda who have the vast amount to answer as it was their supporters who caused the bulk of the violence. Any fans identified as being involved in the violence should face lengthy bans from games.

A one-game blanket ban on all Drogheda fans is totally unfair. It's the fans who caused the trouble who should be banned. And maybe a lifetime ban on being allowed entry into all grounds is the answer.

On Sunday afternoon, both clubs issued a joint statement saying they condemned the actions of a small minority of individuals whose actions have no place in football. They say that a 12-year-old boy sustained injuries after being hit by flares.

The child sustained injuries to his face. They confirmed there were no other injuries. They praised the Order of Malta, who were on site to treat the 12-year-old.

The statement says that Drogheda United have been in contact with the child's family and are offering their full support.

Both clubs say they will fully cooperate with the Gardai into any investigation that will be carried out. Both clubs have called on their supporters to stand together against the violence.

They say they will engage constructively with the FAI disciplinary process.

In my opinion, the thugs from both clubs should face a lifetime ban attending games. It is the only solution. The FAI must impose a zero-tolerance ban on both sets of fans involved.

The clubs will be able to identify those involved. It should not take a massive investigation to nab them. It's sheer luck that more people were not seriously injured or even killed.

This is not an exaggeration. The fumes alone from the pyros caused a number of people to have asthma attacks.

On the pitch, the Louth derby ended all square in Oriel, when it finished a goal a piece. As was the case last week, Dundalk led right up to the dying moments of the game.

There were nearly 4,000 people at the match, which turned out to be an action-packed affair. Dundalk took the lead on 58 minutes, Daryl Horgan pumped a free-kick from the right into the Drogheda box.

Keith Buckley's shot was fired home by Danny Mullen. Drogheda levelled two minutes from time when Conor Keeley headed home a Kieran Cruise header to the net. There were claims that the Dundalk keeper was fouled. But I did not see it that way.

It seemed to be a mistake by the Dundalk keeper, who, yet again, for the second week in a row, failed to dominate his penalty area, only to concede a precious goal needlessly.

I feel sorry for Conor Kearns. He had a good game right up until he made the mistake. But it was a costly one and deprived Dundalk of their first league win.

Dundalk assistant manager Ken Kierans dismissed my suggestion that Conor Kerans had any responsibility for the Drogheda goal. "No, listen, Conor has made a brilliant save from Thomas Oluwa in the first half.

Straight after their goal, he reacted well when he punched the ball away. For the goal, he is looking at the two players who are closest to him. Keeley then came in on the blind side of him.

So, look, he reacted to that well. He is a top keeper. I have no worries about Conor not being able to dominate his penalty area. The goal they got tonight was got by creating chaos.

If anything, I would have liked the cross not to get in. But Conor has come for the ball. Keeley has come in on the blind side. On another day, Dundalk could have got a free out. I will have to look back at it with the tactical team.

Manager Ciaran Kilduff said that the manner of the late goal overshadows the positives that we got from the game.

"When it was suggested that Conor Kearns was a little bit upset at the end of the game, and if he thought he was fouled, the manager says that sometimes for a keeper, decision-making is difficult.

"He could be asking himself if he could punch the ball or not. He could be unhappy that maybe it was a free out. I think Conor has the same feeling as the rest of us, and that the game has just got a little bit away from us.

"It was just so close of a game. I can not fault anybody. I think every player made a good account of themselves."

As last week, this was a game that Dundalk should have won. It's clear Ciaran Kilduff has built an experienced side that should more than hold their own in the Premier Division this season.

Vinnie Leonard made his first start to the season. Mayowa has a hamstring injury. Vinnie, who is Norwich-bound in the summer, was my man of the match.

He had a top-class game. He marshalled his defence so well throughout the game. Rob Cornwall and Robert Burns were also excellent in defence. Last week's man of the match, JR Wilson, yet again made a big contribution at full back.

Aodh Dervin revelled at being back at Oriel and dominated the middle of the park. Daryl Horgan continues to roll back the years. He had a great game. y

His free kicks, corners, passes, and overall creativity were top-class. Eoin Kenny was switched back to the wing by the manager. He was very effective as he was in Derry last week.

He looked to have been hacked down in the penalty area, as he went on an amazing run through the Drogheda defence. Referee Rob Hennessy did not want to know.

A minute later, again it was Eoin Kenny. Once more, he was hacked down, this time on the edge of the box. Dundalk got their free kick. But Daryl Horgan's free disappointed. Gbemi Arubi is sheer class. He could be the next player on his way to the UK.

He was involved in a great move midway through the first half when Gbemi played an excellent one-two with Eoin Kenny, started by Robbie Burns. Gbemi got in behind the Drogheda defence.

He curled the ball just wide of the post. Drogheda made sure Dundalk did not have it all their own way. Five minutes after the great move between Kenny and Arubi, Conor Kane got a great cross in from the left from Conor Kane.

It found Thomas Oluwa. He just could not get control of the ball to cause any damage to the Dundalk defence.

Conor Keeley, who turned out to be a Drogheda hero with his late equaliser, nearly scored an own goal just five minutes after the break. JR Wilson got a neat cross into the Drogheda box. Keeley went to clear the ball to safety.

Instead, he sliced the ball, which in turn took a wicked spin and nearly went in. Oluwa found a gap in the Dundalk defence and broke free.

His shot was saved superbly by Conor Kearns. The Dundalk keeper is an excellent shot stopper, and here he was outstanding.

Dundalk opened the scoring six minutes later. There was a brief stoppage shortly after that for a medical emergency. Brandon Kavanagh had a great effort saved superbly by Conor Kearns.

Daryl Horgan was unlucky to see his effort go narrowly wide with minutes remaining. The Drogheda goal came on 88 minutes. Despite playing seven minutes injury time, neither side could force a winner.

Manager Ciaran Kilduff had two changes in his team that started against Derry. Vinnie Leonard replaced the injured Mayowa. Gbemi Arubi replaced Declan McDaid.

During the game, Ronan Teahan came on as a sub for Aodh Dervin on 72 minutes. Eoin Kenny was replaced by Harry Groome on 83 mins. Daryl Horgan was replaced by Tyreke Wilson, also on 83 minutes. Gbemi Arubi was taken off for Declan McDaid on 72 mins.

But it was a night of shame off the pitch. Over 300 Drogheda United supporters travelled by train to the game. There were ugly scenes at the train station as some of these supporters threw flares onto the Carrick Road, disrupting traffic.

The incident could clearly be seen on video taken during which went viral on social media.

There were reports that stones and other missiles were also thrown by a minority of Drogheda supporters from inside the grounds of the train station, again onto the main Carrick Road. It was a miracle there were no injuries.

But the hooligans were only starting. The new pitch and floodlights were officially opened by the Minister for Sport, Patrick O'Donovan.

But part of the pitch was badly damaged when flares were continuously thrown onto the pitch by fans where the Drogheda supporters were located.

The full extent of the damage done to the new astro turf pitch was clear to me when I went over and counted 35 bad scorch marks on the new pitch. It is an absolute disgrace that this happened.

Not only that, but the fireworks the Drogheda supporters threw onto the pitch at the start of the game engulfed Oriel Park in smoke. For anybody with a respiratory condition, it was a horrible experience. I am a severe asthmatic.

I found it very hard to breathe properly for the first 20 minutes of the game. It led to me getting a bad asthmatic attack. This should not be happening. Supporters should not be left gasping for breath at any game or sporting event.

Dundalk fans also had their own fireworks and contributed to the gulf of smoke that covered the ground at the start of the game.

It remains to be seen what action the FAI will take, if any, against Drogheda for the terrible behaviour of their supporters.

They should be facing a stadium ban and a hefty fine for the Drogheda supporters who were behind the trouble both at the train station and the vandalism caused to the damage to the pitch.

There is no doubt that Drogheda as a club will know at least some of the offenders. I would be surprised if they do not know all of them. Drogheda as a club should not have to pick up a fine. The supporters should.

But this is not how it works. It's Drogheda who will be fined for the behaviour of their fans inside the ground. They will not be fined for the street hooliganism caused by their fans at the train station.

Nobody wants to see a stadium ban for Drogheda supporters outright next time they visit Oriel.

I guess if that happened, Drogheda would naturally reply with a stadium ban on Dundalk supporters going to Sullivan and Lamb Park. Nobody would want to see that. So we wait and see what the FAI will do.

The Dundalk manager was bitterly disappointed with the result. "We have been hit with sucker punches in the last two games. We have drawn two games. Maybe it would have been best to win one game and lose the other.

We would have more points. We really wanted to win tonight. With the crowd of nearly 4,000, the stage was set for something big. And yes, we did well, and it was great to see such a big crowd.

"There are so many positives here tonight, from excellent performances to the stage we set. But we really did want to win tonight, with the big crowd in attendance.

The atmosphere was a positive to the fact that we are back in the Premier Division. But we probably had it all tonight, and that was to go on and win the game.

Sadly, we slipped at the last hurdle. When the dust settles, all those positives will be more prominent.

"The trouble that took place in the stadium is not acceptable. This league is scraping for everything it has. We have tried to make a great setting here and a great surface.

This trouble tonight should not have happened. My job and Drogheda manager Kevin is to look after the football.

Kevin was not happy with what went on here tonight. I would have been happier here to talk about the football rather than what went on off the pitch.

It's not good to hear about missiles and flares being thrown from the train station onto the Carrick Road and hitting cars. We had 4,000 people here tonight. We want them all to come back.

You do not want this madness to be setting a precedent of anti-social stuff happening in the ground or in locations surrounding it. We do not need this trouble as a league. We need positivity.

There should have been a lot to be positive here tonight. I thought the setting, the lights, the pitch, and the TV was here. We want to be putting our best foot forward not only as Dundalk football club but as a league as well.

We do not need the type of trouble that was witnessed tonight. We should be talking about two good teams that are booming and a league that is booming. The less we get of this type of violence, the better. We do not need that.

The Dundalk assistant manager, Ken Kieran, says he was very disappointed with the draw. Our boys put in a fantastic performance. Up to their goal right at the end, you could see Drogheda emptying their bench trying to cause a bit of chaos.

Drogheda succeeded in causing that bit of chaos and got the late equaliser. We were very unlucky not to go in at half-time leading. We spoke about this at halftime.

We also spoke about being much more clinical in front of goals in the second half. We got the opening goal early enough in the second half. They are a hard enough side to get a goal at the best of times.

Danny Mullen is a great olayer. He got the opening goal. You could see it in the first half. Balls were getting fizzed into him. He controls the ball. He connects with it so well. He is just a fantastic player.

He is an all-rounder. The improvisation he used in getting that goal was just out of this world. He actually scored in pre-season against Drogheda as well. Danny is just a really quick-thinking type of a player.

He is going to have a good season ahead for us. The team are doing very well. The things we are working on in training, you can see it on the pitch as well. It's all coming together for us.

But we have to be really clinical now. When we get chances in and around the box, we have to put teams to the sword.

"I take huge positives from tonight's game. The performances in the Derry and tonight's games have been excellent. The only thing I feel is that we could have been more clinical in the first half tonight.

We have a very good team. They are still gelling together. The crowd were entertained tonight. The next bit is just putting them to the sword.

"It's great being back in the Premier Division. We would not have been able to do it without the support of everybody and the fans. We are really proud to be back for both the fans and the club.

The fans have been great, as are the boys who stuck around after we were relegated in 2024. They all helped to drag us back into the Premier Division. I had no hesitation returning to Dundalk.

I have been given the opportunity to work in full-time football for at least a year or two. Hopefully it will be longer. Dundalk have really given me something to work towards. I am so proud to be involved with this club."

Dundalk's latest signing, Tyreke Wilson, came on as a sub during the game. He says the Louth Derby was a tough game. "We knew what Drogheda would bring. They are a physical side.

They are also very good on set plays. But of course, we are really disappointed to give that goal away in the end. We are a new group just together. But we are going to have to deal with the problem very quickly of conceding late goals.

We should have six points from the first two games. But we have conceded two late goals in those games. We will have to deal with this and quickly. We can beat any side in this league.

Danny Mullen is a top player. I have been really impressed with him since I came to the club. I think he is one of the best strikers in the league. I felt in the first half we could have been one or two-nil up.

"We cut Drogheda open a couple of times in the first half. We just need to be more clinical and keep the back door shut. We always knew they were going to come back at us after we scored.

Maybe we could have been a bit better in trying to take the sting out of the game. I have just arrived at Oriel Park. I really love it here; the facilities are unbelievable. The management and the staff are great.

And I know a lot of the players. Everything looked so well tonight with the new lights and pitch. It's probably the best astro pitch I have ever played on. I had a couple of injuries with Shelbourne last season, and I struggled.

I had a chat with the gaffer here, and he said I would get my chance here. I suppose I will just have to wait my time and take my chance when it comes.

"Ciaran Kilduff is a very honest man. There are a lot of people in this league who say things and do not follow up. Ciaran Kilduff is certainly not like that. Ciaran is a very honest man.

I had a proper conversation with him. It was just about taking my opportunity when it comes. I felt good coming on for the last 15 minutes of the game. My body feels fine. I just have to keep chipping away and get my start.

Dundalk played Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on Monday night. Hopefully, Dundalk got a result.

Last week saw the 30th anniversary of the death of former chairman Eamonn Hiney. Eamonn died tragically in a road accident near Collon. He was only 47. He financed Dundalk FC himself for many years in the eighties and early 90's.

Eamonn was a gentleman who I knew very well. He was also a part-owner of LMFM at the time of his death. His wife Gemma was in the car when the accident happened.

She has shown great bravery and courage since that awful day, as have her children. Eamonn Hiney will never be forgotten. It was his financial support that helped Turlough O'Connor win the club's second double.

Have a great week. Remember, please look after yourselves and each other. And please be careful out there.