SHAMROCK ROVERS 2
DROGHEDA United tend to raise their game when Shamrock Rovers come to town, so it was hugely disappointing to see Kevin Doherty’s charges come up well short against a severely-depleted Hoops side last Friday night.
The Boynesiders hadn’t lost in their last four home league meetings with Stephen Bradley’s men and here the visitors arrived minus virtually a whole XI of star players, namely Jack Byrne, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke, Josh Honohan, Darragh Burns, Gary O’Neill, Sean Hoare, Sean Kavanagh and Rory Gaffney.
It was difficult to see from the teamsheet who’d actually be lining out at the back, with five of the Rovers absentees being defenders, and yet they still manage to dominate this match and inflict a third straight defeat on the Drogs.
From the very start the Hoops took control of this game and they had a half-chance on seven minutes when Andrew Wogan’s hurried clearance dropped at the feet of Graham Burke, but the former Ireland international’s shot was blocked by Jack Keaney.
A couple of lightning runs by Zishim Bawa and Darragh Markey had Drogheda fans on their feet, but both attacks were well defended by a Rovers back three that was well marshalled by Lee Grace.
At the other end Burke teed up Aaron McEneff for a 20-yard piledriver that flew just wide of Wogan’s right-hand post.
Drogheda had a mini spell of pressure just past the half-hour mark, during which Markey curled a shot wide of the upright and Oisin Gallagher had an effort that was deflected onto the roof of the net by former Drog Darragh Nugent.
But the hosts were almost undone by a quick Rovers breakway in the 42nd minute, with Aaron Greene providing the final pass for Burke who sliced well wide.
Doherty was happy enough to get to half-time with the scores still level, but the outcome was effectively decided when Rovers struck twice in five minutes almost immediately after the restart.
The first goal was simple but brilliantly executed as Johnny Kenny made a great run in between Keaney and Hayden Cann to take a pass from Greene before producing a cool finish beyond the reach of Wogan.
And on 52 minutes Neil Farrugia collected a long, diagonal pass on the right touchline and rolled the ball to Burke who curled a sublime left-footer into the top corner, with Wogan again having no chance.
By the 55th minute Rovers could have been 3-0 ahead, but mercifully Kenny completely mis-cued from eight yards out.
In fairness, Drogheda rolled up their sleeves and pressed forward in the remaining half-hour, but their finishing was poor. Bawa should have got his head on the end of a perfectly placed Weir free kick but instead missed the ball completely, while Adam Foley finally tested Rovers keeper Leon Pohls with a mis-hit effort in the 64th minute.
Drogheda’s best attacking move came when Foley took Gallagher’s long, diagonal pass in his stride and ghosted past Markus Poom before crossing for Frantz Pierrot whose spectacular diving header went wide of the upright.
Markey’s initial darting run led to another opportunity on 66 minutes as Weir floated in another great cross for Foley whose header rose over the crossbar.
Two more chances came just past the 70-minute mark, when Cann bravely attacked another whipped free kick from Weir and took a glancing blow to the head when he collided with the post.
The centre-half failed to make clean contact on that occasion, and Foley was similarly frustrated when his scuffed effort was saved low down by Pohls.
Rovers had no shot at goal for half an hour but finally registered another attempt in the 82nd minute when Conan Noonan fired over the bar from just outside the box.
Drogheda UNITED: Andrew Wogan 7; Luke Heeney 7 (Andrew Quinn 75, 6), Jack Keaney 7, Hayden Cann 7, Evan Weir 8 (Conor Kane 86, 6); Gary Deegan 6, Oisin Gallagher 7 (Matthew O’Brien 86, 6); Adam Foley 7 (Ryan Brennan 75, 7), Darragh Markey 7, Zishim Bawa 7; Frantz Pierrot 5 (Killian Cailloce 86, 6). Subs not used: David Webster, Emre Topcu, James Byrne, Jethren Barr.
Shamrock ROVERS: Leon Pohls 7; Darragh Nugent 7, Lee Grace 8, Markus Poom 7; Neil Farrugia 7 (Richie Towell 67, 6), Conan Noonan 8, Aaron McEneff 7 (Cian Barrett 86, 6), Cory O’Sullivan 7; Aaron Greene 7, Graham Burke 9 (Dylan Watts 76, 6), Johnny Kenny 7 (Cian Dillon 86, 6). Subs not used: James Stefan Roche, John O’Sullivan, Ademide Solanke, Lee Steacy, Toms Leitis.
ATTENDANCE: 2,262
