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Ronan Boyce gave Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side the lead 62 seconds into the second half with a stunning strike from 25 yards.
Brian Maher then produced a brilliant save to deny Ryan Brennan from the penalty spot just five minutes after the Drogheda midfielder came off the bench.
Derry’s close-season marquee signing from Dundalk then doubled the Foyleside club’s lead when reacting quickest inside the six-yard box with a clinical finish on 63 minutes.
Drogheda hit back moments later from Evan Weir’s deflected free-kick and despite bombarding Derry’s penalty area with crosses in the closing stages of the match, the home side held firm to get their 2024 title challenge up and running.
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DERRY CITY 2 DROGHEDA 1 Patrick Hoban scores winning goal on dream debut as Derry City beat Drogheda in Premier Division opener
Ronan Boyce gave Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side the lead 62 seconds into the second half with a stunning strike from 25 yards
PAT HOBAN’S Derry City career got off to a dream start as his debut goal proved the winner against Drogheda United at the Brandywell.
It was the first time since 2019 the Candystripes registered a victory in their first fixture of the season.
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Patrick Hoban scored the winner on a dream debut for Derry City
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Patrick Hoban scored the winner on a dream debut for Derry City
Ronan Boyce gave Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side the lead 62 seconds into the second half with a stunning strike from 25 yards.
Brian Maher then produced a brilliant save to deny Ryan Brennan from the penalty spot just five minutes after the Drogheda midfielder came off the bench.
Derry’s close-season marquee signing from Dundalk then doubled the Foyleside club’s lead when reacting quickest inside the six-yard box with a clinical finish on 63 minutes.
Drogheda hit back moments later from Evan Weir’s deflected free-kick and despite bombarding Derry’s penalty area with crosses in the closing stages of the match, the home side held firm to get their 2024 title challenge up and running.
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City bossed the ball in the early stages and Hoban’s first opportunity arrived on 11 minutes but he headed harmlessly wide. Maher came to Derry’s rescue with a smart one-handed save to deny Zishim Bawa.
Derry came close to breaking the deadlock on 35 minutes when Will Patching’s inswinging corner was met by a towering header from Connolly but his effort went narrowly over.
The Boynesiders had silenced the crowd in the first half but the Brandywell fans were on their feet straight after the restart when Boyce found the net in stunning fashion.
A long punt forward was misjudged by Andrew Wogan who came to collect on the edge of his penalty area. Duffy tried to find the net as Wogan scampered back towards his line but his shot was charged down.
