Drogheda United won their second ever Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup in their 39-year history with a 2-0 over Derry City at the Aviva Stadium. Goals on either side of the half from Andrew Quinn and Douglas James-Taylor secured the cup for Kevin Doherty’s men and will see the famous trophy head to Louth.
 
The first chance of the game was in the 5th minute when Pierrot got behind Shane McEleney to give himself a sight on the Derry goal, but it was easily gathered under pressure from Maher. Darragh Markey forced Maher into a fine save in the 25th minute after he struck a low effort on the edge of the area that nicked a deflection to the goal that saw Maher pushing it around the post.
 
Derry's first opportunity on goal soon followed that effort as McMullan got two bites of the cherry to send the ball into the Drogheda area with his second reaching Mullen, whose back-heeled effort was saved well by Denison. That was followed by an effort from Diallo after he received the ball in the area from a clever short pass from Patrick McEleney with Denison having to gather the ball on the second attempt.
 
Drogheda were to take the lead in the 37th minute when a swinging free kick to the back post by Farrell was met by Andrew Quinn who struck it first time with a precise low effort to beat Maher at his near post.
 
Drogheda almost added a second in the opening stages of the second half when a cross was only half cleared to Shane Farrell at the back post with his effort having to be tipped behind for a corner. Derry went close to drawing level in the 53rd minute when Mullen struck a low effort at the near post which Denison saved well from close range.
 
Drogheda was awarded a penalty in the 57th minute after Boyce took down Kane’s advancing run into the Derry area, Douglas James-Taylor stepped up to calmly slot the ball to the back of the net sending Maher the wrong way in the process.
 
Denison was called into action once more to keep the score line intact when a corner sent into the Drogheda area saw the second ball hang in the air. The Drogheda netminder had to be brave to collect the ball under pressure.
 
Derry continued to press to try and get some way back into the game, but Drogheda’s resolute defending ensured they remained firm from the waves of red and white attacks from the men from Foyleside. In the end, the Claret and Blue wall could not be breached and they secured only their second cup victory in their history the first coming in 2005.
 
Drogheda United: Denison (GK); Quinn, Webster, Bolger; Ahui, Brennan (Deegan 90), Farrell (Heeney 72), Kane; Markey; James-Taylor, Pierrot (Foley 68).
 
Subs not used: Wogan; Keaney, Harper Bailey, Davis, Bosakani, McNally.
 
Derry City: Maher (GK), Boyce (Hoban 65), Connolly, Duffy, P. McEleney (Patching 45), McMullan (Robertson 56), Diallo, S. McEleney, Wisdom (Davenport 82), Mullen (Whelan 56), O’Reilly.
 
Subs not used: Ryan (GK), Idehen, Doherty, Barr.
 
Booked: Brennan (Drogheda), Pierrot (Drogheda), S.McEleney (Derry), O’Reilly (Derry), Foley (Drogheda)
 
Player of the Match: Elicha Ahui
 
Referee: Robert Harvey.
 
Attendance: 38,723