09-05-2025
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.
