The Commentary Box: Daryl Horgan brought Dundalk from the abyss and won the game

The poster rightly said it was the substitutions of Ronan Teahan, Declan McDaid, Aodh Dervin and Shene Tracey that turned the game for the Oriel Park men.

When I saw the team an hour before the game, I could not believe that these players had been left out of the first 11. Who knows, perhaps they were carrying injuries.

Whatever it was that influenced Ciaran Kilduff to leave them out, it was their addition to the team in the second half that allowed Dundalk collect all three points. 'This was for the first time since the end of June they got a win.

Yes, Dundalk did start well. Yes, they led in the half with Cian Dillon's first league goal. But then they simply collapsed as Drogheda seemed to overwhelm them. By the time we were approaching half-time, Dundalk were on the ropes.

It looked as if their challenge had totally collapsed. If they had conceded a third coming up to half time, the game would have been finished as a contest. But the substitutions and the artistry of club skipper Daryl Horgan brought Dundalk from the abyss and won the game.

The result now means that manager Ciaran Kilduff has achieved his main objective, of keeping Dundalk in the Premier division this season, having only been promoted.

Kilduff has defied the bookies and many of the Dublin media. who had Dundalk relegated even before the season had started. Their great start to the season seemed to ban any thoughts of a relegation struggle.

But Dundalk's awful form in the last nine weeks before Friday saw them lose seven and draw just two. Dundalk were still in fourth place, but were getting ready to slide dangerously close or be dragged into, the relegation battle.

When Drogheda were leading 2-1 on Friday, Dundalk were only six points clear of Drogheda. With Waterford winning, the cold wind of a definite struggle in the bottom four could be felt in Drogheda.

But the changes at half time and the mastery and leadership of Daryl Horgan pushed all of that away as Dundalk snatched the win at the death. It was a carbon copy of the derby game in Oriel last June.

That is when Dundalk's awful slump started. Drogheda were one down with five minutes remaining. But two mistakes in the Dundalk defence allowed Drogheda snatch a win they did not deserve.

Dundalk came to Sullivan and Lamb Park just seven days after the horror show against Galway at Oriel, where they lost 2-1. Manager Ciaran Kilduff told me after the Galway game that he would be making changes.

But they seemed to be just cosmetic. Shane Tracey was once again on the bench. Ronan Teahan was dropped. Declan McDavid was also on the bench again, as was Aodh Dervin, who was subbed against Galway.

The manager did hand a league debut to 18 year old Igor Vassenein. He is on loan from Shamrock Rovers. He really impressed in this game, as he has in other games.

Harry Groome started along with Leo Gaxha. Neither ever really made the impression one would expect from the experience they have built. Gaxha was making his first full Premier Division start for Dundalk.

He has been used as a sub since he returned from injury and has started in the FAI cup games. He was badly injured a year ago in a game, that has only seen him return recently.

On Friday, he missed at least two good chances to score for Dundalk, when they were having their good spell in the first 20 minutes of the first half.

The defence saw Rob Cornwall being left on the bench. To be fair, he was not really missed, with Vassenein doing so well. But the game showed the defence make the same old mistakes.

When Drogheda finally went at Dundalk in that first half, the Oriel Park men were on the back foot until half time. The defence just can not deal with a high ball in the box.

Enda Minogue was once again guilty of failing to command his penalty area. He will not come for crosses. He seems to be nowhere when the crosses come in. Defenders have lost confidence.

That loss of confidence makes the defenders very nervous and affects their play. It also puts the side under a lot of unnecessary pressure.

I was shocked in the dying minutes of the first half that there seemed to be nobody in the defence to deal with the Drogheda attack.

I have never seen a defence so rattled. It looked as if Drogheda were going to bury Dundalk before half time. The fact that they were still only a goal behind at the break left the door open for a Dundalk revival.

Dundalk started the game brightly. Keith Buckley put Cian Dillon in early on. He got caught on the offside. Minutes later, Minogue made a great clearance to Clarke. His cross to the edge of the box put Gaxha in. He shot over.

Horgan then had a go for Dundalk with a good shot that was cleared by Shane Farrell. By the fifteenth minute, Dundalk had 65 per cent possession of the game. Clarke then wasted a good free chance on the edge of the box.

He just shot into a wall. It was no surprise when Dundalk took the lead. That was on 25 minutes. A mistake in the Drogheda defence allowed Daryl Horgan to get a cross in. Cian Dillon shot home from 2 yards.

Dundalk were in full control and firing on all cylinders. Bobby Burns had a shot deflected to Cian Dillon. The Dundalk striker missed a great chance to put daylight between themselves and Drogheda. Dundalk's lead goal was the first shot on target the game had seen.

Drogheda were level on 34 minutes. Abache cut the Dundalk defence wide open. Ancillin had no problem shooting home just inside the box. The Dundalk defence were ball watching.

It got worse for Dundalk a minute later when Brandon Kavanagh broke inside the Dundalk box. His chipped lob hit the roof of the net with a great goal. Drogheda had scored twice in less than two minutes. Dundalk were falling apart.

Dundalk now only had one clean sheet in their last 18 games. Dundalk did manage to launch a dangerous attack. Gaxha was put through by Daryl horgan. But the Kerry man messed up a glorious chance.

Drogheda should have sewn the game up when Trevor Clarke made a poor mistake in his box. Brandon Kavanagh had the goal at his mercy. His shot was just inches away. The Drogs should have scored. It was an awful miss.

As the game headed to first half injury time, a great ball across the Dundalk goal found Mark Doyle. With the goals totally open, amazingly Kavanagh failed to connect.

Dundalk had had another let-off. They were still only 2-1 down when it should have been more. But the Oriel Park side held on for dear life and went in just one behind. But Ciaran Kilduff began to work the oracle at the break.

Trevor Clarke was taken off, and Ronan Teahan came on as a sub, but Dundalk had to survive early Drogheda pressure. Mark Doyle had a stinging effort go just wide. Minogue was well beaten.

At this stage of the game, early in the second half, Dundalk were playing like a team who looked like they were going down. 10 minutes into the second half, Conor Keeley had an effort that came off the top of the Dundalk crossbar.

Enda Minogue would still not come off his line. Three of Dundalk's defenders had been booked by the 50th minute. They were Grivosti, Vassenein and Burns. Aodh Dervin came on in place of Keith Buckley on 56 minutes.

Shane Tracey also came on for Harry Groome also on 56 minutes. These were the key moves that were to bring Dundalk back to life.

Add Declan McDavid for Gaxha on 64 minutes, and Dundalk were finally able to take on a shape of a team that could challenge Drogheda. ,

Dundalk won a corner on the left; Horgan swung it in. The ball bobbled dangerously in the 6-yard area. Drogheda cleared.

Grivosti made a hames of trying to get to the ball on the edge of his own box. Two minutes later Horgan broke down the left wing. He found Grivosti on the right hand edge of the Drogheda box.

Grivosti put in a dangerous cross that the Drogheda defence could not deal with. The ball appeared to have been turned in by Conor Keely for an own goal.

Later, the goal was given to Ronan Teahan. It was claimed that the Dundalk player got the final touch to the ball before it crossed the line. That was on 67 minutes.

Dundalk were on top now. McDavid put Dillon in the clear. For the third time of the game, the young Dundalk striker was caught offside.

With four minutes remaining, Horgan tried to set Cian Dillon up with a great cross on the left. Dillon made a mess of his chance and him with the goal at his mercy.

But Dundalk were celebrating minutes later when Ethan O'Brien took Shane Tracey down on the edge of the Drogheda box. Referee Neil Doyle had no hesitation to award Dundalk a free. Daryl Horgan stepped up to take the free.

The stadium got ready to see what Horgan could do. The Dundalk skipper curled the ball around the wall and into the top right hand corner of the net. The Dundalk section of the ground celebrated as if they were after winning a league.

But it was worth more than that. Dundalk's slide down the table had been halted. For Horgan, it was his tenth goal of the season with a dramatic total of 12 assists.

Four minutes into injury time, Enda Minogue came way out of his goal to clear a ball. It was a very dangerous thing to do. Ryan. Brennan latched onto it.

He had lob on the Dundalk goals with Minogue stranded. It was a great effort which was just narrowly over. It would have been so hard on Dundalk had Drogheda equalised.

Dundalk had 56 per cent of the possession of the game to Drogheda's 44. Dundalk had four shots on target. The Drogs had 3. Dundalk had 7 shots off target. Drogheda had six. Dundalk forced three corner kicks. Drogheda had 5.

Dundalk had four offsides; Drogheda had 2. Both teams committed 12 fouls each against each other. Dundalk had three yellow cards shown. Drogheda had 2. Enda Minogue made

1 save, as did Drogheda's Luke Dennison. The stats stand up well for On the injury front, Sean Spaight picked up one a week ago. It's not known yet how long he will be out. Tyreke Wilson should be able to rejoin the panel.

But he has not trained in 7 weeks. So he is a distance away from being match fit. Jr Wilson is still some time away from being available. Harvey Warren is close to a return. Again, that will be a couple of weeks. I.

This was such a great win for the club. Once again Ciaran Kilduff got it right as far as his new signings in the window are concerned. Trevor Clarke is settling in very well. It was unfortunate he had to go off injured during the game.

Egor Vassenein is a great prospect. He is on loan from Shamrock Rovers. I am sure Dundalk will be playing against Egor in the coming years. He is a great prospect. Tom Grivosti is beginning to settle in well.

He was very good on Friday night. It was great to see Cian Dillon getting his first league goal on Friday. He will get a few more before the end of the season.

I thought Shane Tracey did so well when he came on as a sub. He battled all the time to help Dundalk to get their first win over Drogheda this season. For Ciaran Kilduff, this is a great achievement.

It means his side have now beaten every team in the Premier Division this season. Kilduff's philosophy on football is top class. He wants his teams to play open, free-flowing, attacking football.

This is no matter the circumstances. . it shows in the stats. His team have scored forty six goals this season. They are the second-highest-scoring team in the league.

But they have conceded 45 goals. They have the fourth-worst defensive record in the league. This is not good. It's something the manager will have to work on for next season.

But to have confirmed that they will be in the Premier Division next season is fantastic, and a huge relief. Anything else they do for the rest of the season is a bonus. Get credit must go to Ken Kiernan. He is the deputy head coach. He has been fantastic with the players and a huge help to the manager.

Daryl Horgan is a hero, as are all the players. But at that to be the club's leading scorer at 35 and to have scored 10 goals and make 12 assists in the process shows how powerful a player he is.

Daryl has looked after himself fitness-wise as well. I doubt if there is any other player on the Dundalk team who looks after his fitness better than Daryl. He has got some important goals for Dundalk in the past.

I think Friday's goal is right up there among the best he has scored in the past. It could also be classified as his most important.

Next Sunday Dundalk play Derry in the quarter-final of the cup. The Foylesiders are hitting form since they offloaded their last manager. They are possibly the richest club in the country.

On the pitch, they have yet to fulfil the great potential that they obviously have. Derry's new pitch will be something to look forward to. Dundalk revel in games like this away from home.

They love the hostile atmosphere that will be there next Sunday from the Derry fans. City will be favourites. But who knows. Dundalk may well defy the odds. On Sunday, Derry raced into a 3-1 lead against champions Shamrock Rovers.

But Rovers, to their credit, came roaring back and got the goals that earned them a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw. There will be plenty of goals on Sunday next. Both sides have their vulnerabilities of conceding. Who knows, Dundalk may well get the win.

Waterford's dramatic revival continued at Inchicore on Friday night. They emphatically beat Stephen Kenny's Pats 2-0. Waterford began their good form against Dundalk at Oriel. They were 2-0 down.

But came back and scored three times to win. They look now as if they will not even finish in the dreaded play off place. That looks like it could be Drogheda United. Sligo seem destined for Division One next season.

They suffered a heavy defeat against Bohemians on Friday night. I just can't see them getting away from the automatic relegation place. now. But who knows.

Pat's defeat on Friday is a bitter blow to manager Stephen Kenny and his assistant Brian Gartland. The result means Pats are all but out of the league race. They are still in the cup. Shamrock Rovers' exit from Europe this week was a surprise in one way.

But people here forget Stephen Bradley's men were playing against a team made up of a number of top Finnish internationals. The criticism of Rovers manager Stephen Bradley is laughable and pathetic.

He has won 5 league titles in the last 6 seasons. And barring a massive collapse, the Hoops will collect another league title in 2 months' time. Bradley is the most successful manager in the modern League of Ireland era.

Dundalk prepared for Friday's League of Ireland game against Drogheda by using Clancy Park. This ground belongs to Qyat Celtic.

The club trains on grass when they are playing away from home the following Sunday. Dundalk have free access to the Grammar School grounds to train.

But the club need a groundsman to ensure the pitch at the grammar school is up to standard for training. The sooner Dundalk get a groundsman, the better. This will be essential for Ciaran Kilduff next season.

I see that referee Neil Doyle has decided to retire and hang up his whistle. I was really sorry to hear that, as Neil has been one of the best referees I have ever seenHe is far better than any of the referees I have seen over the past two seasons.

To me, the standard of refereeing has slipped badly. Neil Doyle took charge of the Louth Derby on Friday. He was excellent. More about this referee in the weeks to come.

I see Rock Celtic's Jimmy Dunne scored the winning goal for his club QPR on Saturday against Blackburn. Jimmy is the QPR captain this season. He is a Republic of Ireland international as well. Hopefully Jimmy will get his place back with the Republic of Ireland soon.

His late dad, Eamonn, who died at such a young age, would be very proud of him. I'm sure Eamonn is looking down at Jimmy from above and is looking after him in his own way.

He is doing a very good job. I knew Eamonn very well. He was a teacher at the Patrician High School in Carrickmacross.

The new League of Ireland Second Division started on Saturday. There will be no promotion from it this season, which ends in November. But from next season, the team that finishes top will get promotion.

The bottom side in the First Division will drop down to the second division. I have grave misgivings about this. It's hard to see League of Ireland football surviving in large population centres like Limerick or Athlone if they drop to the lowest Division.

I have always felt the Fai should have reverted to the old 16 team premier division with the clubs playing each other twice. The creation of the First Division and the reduction to a 12 or 10-team league was barely acceptable to me.

It's ensured that said centres of huge population have been rarely in the Premier Division over the forty years since it came into existence. The First Division is the graveyard of Irish football.

Attendances are very poor. Clubs are hardly surviving. I know that the FAI had to bring in a First Division. They did not have to reduce the numbers in the Premier Division.

But if there is going to be relegation between the First Division and the Second Division, then the numbers in the Premier Division must increase. They must revert to a 12 team league with one going down. And one involved in a play-off.

Ten teams in the league have seen too many repetitive fixtures. Too many Dublin Derbies. The 12 team league will also allow clubs not to be looking over their shoulders with the constant fear of relegation on their radar.

It will allow clubs to strengthen and develop. Creating a new division is crazy when teams are struggling in the two divisions already tin existance .

And if there are 12 teams in the Premier division, they should have to play each other four times. Previously, they were forced to play just three. This gave some clubs an added advantage.