Hayden Cann struck in the 94th minute to shoot ten-man Drogheda United five points clear of a stunned Dundalk at the bottom of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table, as they came out on top 2-1 at Weavers Park on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

Dundalk had started well but Drogheda had the best chances of the opening half. Neither Frantz Pierrot nor Darragh Markey were able to take advantage of a smartly taken quick free-kick, and then Adam Foley drove straight at George Shelvey when well-placed.

Robbie Benson did see a shot cleared off the line seven minutes before the break, and he had another sight of goal early in the second period but Jethren Barr saved.

Drogheda took the lead in the 55th minute when a mistake in the Dundalk defence gifted Pierrot an opening and he blasted past Shelvey.

Jamie Gullan of Dundalk scores his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Dundalk at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

That knocked Dundalk back but, shortly after Jamie Gullan’s shot was cleared off the line, the road to recovery looked to have started in the final quarter-hour. Barr was sent off for taking out substitute Cami Elliott outside the box, and Gullan stood up to hammer a free-kick past Andrew Wogan.

Dundalk were well on top and pushing for a winner, but in the fourth of ten added minutes, they were silenced as Evan Weir curled a set-piece into the area and the ball broke kindly for Cann who was left with a simple task to slot past Shelvey, who was sent off after the final whistle.

For the game, manager Noel King made two changes to the team that drew with Shelbourne on Friday night as Hayden Muller and Paul Doyle returned to the starting lineup in place of the suspended Zak Bradshaw and Koen Oostenbrink who went off late against the league leaders.

Drogheda started brightly and, after Foley’s wild shot, they threatened from a corner, before John Mountney hit Dundalk’s first shot in anger in the fifth minute but his effort from distance flew wide.

Dundalk players huddle before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Dundalk at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

In the 13th minute, Dundalk had a penalty shout when Mountney went down in the box but the referee was not interested, with Scott High’s follow-up shot blocked. The Lilywhites retained possession and Gullan pulled the ball back for Benson but he delayed pulling the trigger as Drogheda cleared.

Near the midway point of the first half, Drogheda almost took the lead when a quick free-kick from Gary Deegan created a golden opportunity that Pierrot nor Markey could capitalise on as Dundalk put bodies on the line to keep the hosts out.

On 25 minutes, Deegan played in Foley on the right of the box but his low shot was saved by Shelvey. Pierrot then fired into the side-netting after latching onto Foley’s flick-on.

On 38 minutes, Gullan and Horgan combined to set up Benson but his strike from inside the box was blocked on the line. Shortly after, Deegan was lucky to escape a second yellow card for a foul on Dundalk’s No8, with the referee deciding to play advantage.

Jamie Gullan of Dundalk reacts after a missed opportunity on goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Dundalk at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

The second half started at a fast pace as both teams attacked. On 53 minutes, Benson delivered a dangerous corner with the ball flashing just wide off a Drogheda head, and the resulting set-piece ended with the experienced midfielder working Barr.

Almost straight away, Drogheda took the lead after a disaster in the Dundalk defence. Shelvey passed to Doyle close to the box and he was closed down with the ball breaking into the path of Pierrot who finished clinically.

Dundalk were visibly rocked by that goal and, while battling, were struggling to create any opportunities in attack.

However, on 69 minutes, they should have been level. A mix-up in the Drogheda defence gave Gullan the chance and he set himself before unleashing a shot past Barr that Luke Heeney got back brilliantly to clear off the line.

Referee Robert Harvey issues a red card to Drogheda United goalkeeper Jethren Barr during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Dundalk at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

On 74 minutes, the tide turned. Elliott, who had only come onto the pitch, was cleaned out by Barr who had come out of his area, with the red card shown after the ‘keeper received some treatment. Gullan hit the free-kick low into the corner of the net past Wogan.

Dundalk dominated after the restart and, going into ten added minutes, looked the most likely to grab all three points. However, they were stunned when Weir’s free-kick dropped to Cann in the box and he shot past Shelvey.

Horgan did see a cross tipped over by Wogan after that but Dundalk could not avoid a costly defeat, with Shelvey seeing red after the game which will rule him out of the trip to Waterford on Friday.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Jethren Barr, Luke Heeney, Andrew Quinn, Hayden Cann, Evan Weir, Gary Deegan, Darragh Markey (Oisín Gallagher 83), Adam Foley, Ryan Brennan, Warren Davis (Aaron McNally 67), Frantz Pierrot (Andrew Wogan 77). Subs not used: Jack Keaney, Matthew O’Brien, Dave Webster, Zishim Bawa, Conor Kane, Killian Cailloce.

DUNDALK FC: George Shelvey, Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Hayden Muller (Ryan O’Kane 89), Scott High, Paul Doyle (Koen Oostenbrink 60), John Mountney (Cami Elliott 73), Robbie Benson, Daryl Horgan, Jamie Gullan. Subs not used: Ross Munro (GK), Louie Annesley, Mayowa Animasahun, Sam Durrant, Eoin Kenny, Seán Keogh.

REFEREE: Robert Harvey.