Shamrock Rovers climb top of league table with comprehensive Drogheda victory
Shamrock Rovers 3-0 Drogheda United
Rapid-fire Shamrock Rovers have raced to the top of the Premier Division.
Facing leaders Drogheda United, it was a frustrating evening for the Hoops until Aaron Greene opened the scoring in the 50th minute.
Lee Grace doubled their lead three minutes later as Drogheda's disciplined defence disintegrated, and substitute Rory Gaffney added a third in injury-time.
Up to Greene's opener, the Hoops had little joy in the final third and Graham Burke's missed first-half penalty suggested that their luck might be out.
The ease with which the Boynesiders comfortably soaked up their hosts' pressure made the nature of Rovers' opener all the more surprising.
Drogheda had all 11 players in their half as the ball was cleared down the pitch to home goalkeeper Ed McGinty.
He was 20 yards from his area as he took a touch and then passed it to Grace on his right, and as the centre-half launched the ball forward, Greene could barely believe his good fortune.
The same defence that had acted like a shield in front of Luke Dennison's goal simply evaporated and Rovers' veteran forward found himself with a clear run on goal.
Spotting Dennison's desperate dash off his line, the 35-year-old, who last Monday celebrated his 100th League of Ireland goal, calmly lifted the ball over the US-born keeper and into the net.
It was an incredible contrast to Drogheda's previously imperious rearguard display - the only exception being the concession of a penalty just after the half-hour mark.
Owen Lambe clipped Josh Honohan, who was turning away from goal, and referee Robert Harvey pointed to the spot.
There were almost two minutes between the awarding and the taking of the penalty, but you would have put your house on Burke converting from 12 yards.
Yet the man who had been successful with all but two of his 21 previous spot-kicks clipped the outside of the right-hand post with this effort, with a relieved Dennison having dived the wrong way.
Suddenly, the Drogheda fans in the 6,101-strong crowd could be heard over the home fans, who had to wait until the 26th minute to see their side's first shot on target.
That was another Burke effort, this one from the edge of the area that was low and straight at Dennison. Up to that point, Drogheda's Shane Farrell and Rovers' Jack Byrne were off-target.
In the build-up to Friday's game, Rovers boss Stephen Bradley claimed that Drogheda were the best in the league at winning free-kicks.
But when it came to the dark arts, their slowing of the game by eating up seconds on goal-kicks and set-pieces was the biggest source of irritation for Bradley and his players.
In the end, Rovers were more than happy to take the pace out of the game, thanks to Grace doubling their advantage three minutes after the opener.
He rose unmarked at the back post to head Byrne's corner powerfully into the back of the net.
With Drogheda forced to abandon their defensive set-up, gaps started to appear, and another link-up between Grace and Greene gave Byrne an opportunity to tee up Matthew Healy.
His effort from the edge of the area was saved by Dennison, but the Drogheda goalkeeper was beaten again in injury-time.
He raced from his area to challenge substitute Michael Noonan for a through-pass and, as the pair collided with each other, the ball broke to fellow sub Gaffney.
The Galwayman will never score an easier goal - he had the simple task of walking the ball unchallenged into an empty net for his third goal of the season.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty 6; Roberto Lopes 6, Lee Grace 7, Cory O'Sullivan 6; Danny Grant 6 (John O'Sullivan 84), Darragh Nugent 7 (Victor Ozhianvuna 84), Matthew Healy 6, Jack Byrne 7 (Cian Barrett 84), Josh Honohan 6; Graham Burke 6 (Rory Gaffney 72), Aaron Greene 7 (Michael Noonan 73).
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison 6; Owen Lambe 6, Elicha Ahui 7, Conor Keeley 8, Frank George-Cooper 7 (Thomas Oluwa 59, 6), Conor Kane 7; Luke Heeney 6, Shane Farrell 6 (Kieran Cruise 72), Ryan Brennan 6 (James Bolger 63, 6); Warren Davis 6, Douglas James-Taylor 6.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
File on GSOC investigation into fatal hit and run with DPP
A decision will then be made about what charges are to be preferred. No timeline has been given yet. The 44 year old was walking home and crossing the road near his home at the Highlands, Drogheda on St Patrick's night, 2024 when he was knocked down. He died shortly afterwards at the scene. His death caused great anger and heartbreak in the locality. The car involved was later identified and an off duty Garda is believed to have been driving the vehicle. One young member was subsequently suspended and returned to his native county. A full scale GSOC investigation was launched and several people including other Gardai were questioned. One member was formally arrested and interviewed. GSOC confirmed that its investigation is complete and the file is with the DPP. It is now waiting on a decision on what charges are to be brought against those involved. Niall MacEneaney played hurling for the Wolfe Tones and Mattock Rangers during his career. During his time as manager he won the Louth senior hurling championship with Termonfeckin in 2022 and 2023. He is survived by his wife Grace and his parents. The family have not made any public comment on the case.
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
John Fallon: League of Ireland mid-season report card
1. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Played: 19. Points: 36. Doubters circled when they accrued just one point from their opening three games, but the European hangover receded and injury list eased to equip them for regaining their crown. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
John O'Shea hoping new recruits can create competition ahead of World Cup qualifiers
John O'Shea is hoping for selection headaches and that the fringe players make their case for World Cup qualifying inclusion in the upcoming doubleheader against Senegal and Luxembourg. Heimir Hallgrimsson named an experimental squad, to a certain degree, for the end-of-season friendly internationals, leaving several key players out following a long season at club level. The two games, and the current international camp, are the last chance for the management to cast their eye over those on the periphery, as well as a few new editions to the squad with Josh Honohan from Shamrock Rovers, Stade de Reims' John Joe Patrick Finn, and Killian Phillips from St Mirren all included. Getting the balance right appears to be the approach to these two games with many players arriving into camp with varying levels of activity in recent weeks with club seasons ending, for some, up to five weeks ago. And the immediate aim is to get the team to peak for the first of the two games at Aviva Stadium on Friday night, which has seen the squad build the intensity within a more relaxed end-of-season style camp "Yeah, to a certain degree," said assistant coach, John O'Shea, when asked whether there was a more relaxed approach to the summer camp. "The test that Senegal will give us, and also Luxembourg away is not an easy game. So that's going to give us a different test. "First and foremost, Senegal, you can have a bit more relaxed atmosphere. Today was a more intense day in training, [then] we can relax a little bit more tomorrow in training in terms of the load. "But we've had to, because some lads are finishing at different timeframes over the last couple of weeks. You have to have that balance right of the training to make sure we're hopefully peaking for Friday evening." O'Shea admits that there is added scrutiny on the players' performances at training and going into the two games with a real focus on the squad that is going to take on the six-game qualifying campaign from September to November. And he is hoping that some players stand out from the crowd and really give the management dilemmas when it comes to nailing down the final contingent. "Without a doubt, that's always the perfect scenario that the manager and the staff have a difficult decision to make," said O'Shea. "First and foremost, it's always a difficult decision to pick a team. But then when you're picking the squad, you're saying to the boys now, players that are maybe not here, they're looking in thinking, oh, if he does well, if he comes on, if he does well. "But behind all that is the goal to qualify for a major tournament, the goal to have the reliability of knowing that if he gets injured, this guy done brilliant for us, we know he's ready to go. "Seeing that they're able to mix into the group, they know the scenario of the group in terms of what the coaching staff are looking for, what the management is looking for. "If someone really stands up and goes, right, I'm ready to go, it's a huge bonus." O'Shea offered his thoughts on some of the new arrivals and said that everyone has been impressed with their first involvement with the senior squad. "They've been impressive, plenty of good powerful running, good tackling, kind of intensity in training that they constantly bring, good characters," said O'Shea. "It's a little bit easier for Killian for example. John is settling in well but it's obviously a little bit different for him where he's coming in from France, but they've settled in brilliantly and like with any new players that come into the group, the players help them out as much as they can. "Josh Honohan, he's brilliant, he was having good battles with Festy Ebosele today and it was really good to see that he's able to compete and show what he's all about and that's what we want. "We want the players to come in and show that personality. And that's why they've been picked. And hopefully they'll get a chance to show that at some stage over the two games." Others have been involved before, and O'Shea is adamant that places are still up for grabs and the likes of Kasey McAteer can use this window to take his opportunity. "It was a difficult one at times for him (McAteer), but he finished the season very strong and he's looking at being really positive for next season, and to have an impact in these two games." Ireland have struggled in competitive fixtures at this time of year in recent campaigns, but the non-competitive aspect of this international window is allowing the management to build relationships and making stronger bonds throughout the squad as World Cup qualifying kicks in as soon as the new season starts. "Ultimately, it's for the coaching staff to have the time with the players to get to increase the relationship with the players, increase the bond with the players, to introduce one or two new players, all those little factors. "Yeah, it's awkward in the sense of the timing, it's different in the feeling of if these were qualifiers, the whole kind of reaction around it, but in the mindset, you have to build into what it can lead to qualifying for tournaments. "I think the bigger goal of qualifying for the World Cup in America, Canada, Mexico, that has to outweigh it. "If we get players to have an impact this week in the friendlies that suddenly help us qualify or score a goal to qualify for us for the World Cup, I think you'll say it was definitely worthwhile."
