Sporting Fingal 1-2 Drogheda United
Drogheda United collected a vital three points in their survival bid by beating a depleted Sporting Fingal in an action-packed game in which both sides finished with ten men.
Fingal manager Buckley Liam opted to make wholesale changes to the team which narrowly lost 3-2 against CS Maritimo in the Europa League last week ahead of Thursday's return leg at Dalymount Park.
The addition of eight newcomers to the side brought natural challenges and despite taking an early lead, Fingal were beaten by an 87th winner from defender Alan McNally.
It was no surprise that Drogs began with the greater spring in their step and only two minutes had gone when Peter McMahon had their first chance with a free-kick that was blocked by the wall.
From a harmless looking cross, Fingal surged into the lead on 19 minutes. Ollie Cahill, making his first start since joining the club last week, delivered a cross which made its way to Eamon Zayed who availed of the space to poke home from eight yards.
But the Louthmen soon found their rhythm and McMahon missed a sitter when he blasted over six minutes later from John Flood's cut-back.
The same pair combined on 39 minutes and this time the outcome was more positive. Flood set up McMahon, who turned Collie Jameis in the box and cut a low shot past Quigley from an acute angle.
The away side were given a further boost a minute short of the break as the opponents were reduced to ten men. Keith Quinn, having been booked earlier, was issued with another yellow card by referee Derek Tomney for appeared to be an innocuous challenge on McNally.
Drogs exerted more pressure in the second half and the lively Flood was inches away from netting their second on 65 minutes only for his header to rebound off the post and back into Quigley's arms.
Despite having Eoghan Osbourne sent off on 86 minutes for a second yellow card, which was swiftly followed by another dismissal for substitute Declan Brennan who was dismissed sitting in the dug-out for protesting, Drogs wouldn't be denied their winner.
It arrived three minutes from the end as McNally had the easy task of tapping into the net after Mick Daly's header from McMahon's inswinging free-kick was parried by Quigley.
Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Quigley; James, Gannon, Browne, Frost; Dawson, Williams (O'Brien 80), Quinn; Byrne (Kirby 67), Zayed, Cahill (Crowe 67).
Drogheda United (4-4-2): Skinner; Treacy, McNally, Daly, Osbourne; Meenan (McEntegert 72), McGill, R. Brennan, McMahon; Fitzpatrick (Duffy 69), Flood.
Referee: D. Tomney (Dublin).