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RTÉ News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Josh Thomas strikes late as Drogheda win at Dalymount Park
A dramatic goal from substitute Josh Thomas, four minutes from time, gave Drogheda United a third consecutive 1-0 league win over Alan Reynolds' side as the visitors took the spoils after a month without a league game. Just when it looked like the game was heading for a draw, Drogheda won it as a sumptuous through ball by Conor Keeley straight down the middle picked out Thomas in the 86th minute who then outstripped the home defence and coolly put the ball past Kacper Chorazka. Drogheda had only played a single match in the last month before the visit to Dalymount, disposing of Crumlin United in the FAI Cup, having lost out in a place in the UEFA Conference league due to a club ownership conflict. Drogheda had been kicking their heels as a result and had a mid-season training camp in Spain to keep their players ticking over. However, they came back to action with a late smash and grab to severely dent Bohemians' title ambitions, as they remain seven points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and now having played a game more than the Hoops who can go 10 points clear if they beat Derry City on Sunday evening. Crunching tackles and fouls littered the opening period as second faced fourth with Bohs four points ahead of the visitors prior to kick-off, but there were chances. Straight from the kick-off Drogheda lost possession and Dayle Rooney, inside his own half, spotted United keeper Luke Dennison off his line and his audacious effort didn't miss by much. Moments later Bohs right-back Ross Tierney was caught in possession by Dare Kareem, but Kacper Chorazka saved Kareem's effort on the edge of his six-yard box. Kareem was brought into the club in the off-season as an Under-20s player but injures, and the departure of Douglas James-Taylor to Bohemians, has seen the 19-year-old elevated to the senior squad. On the quarter hour, a ball from Bohs captain Dawson Devoy outfoxed the visitors defence and picked out Tierney all alone in the area. He looked certain to score only for Dennison to pull off a brilliant point-blank save with his leg to keep the game scoreless. A poor headed clearance from Conor Kane then fell for Drogheda centre-half Conor Keeley who turned and shot from the edge of the area, with his dipping effort just clearing the Bohs crossbar. The helter-skelter nature of the game continued after the break as both sides looked for the breakthrough goal, but a combination of poor finishing and last-ditch tackles kept the game scoreless. Jordan Flores' shot from the edge of the area came though a ruck of players and Dennison did well to get down late to save just after the hour mark. On 73 minutes, Connor Parsons delivered a cross to pick out Tierney at the back post who smashed his shot into the side netting, with many of the home support thinking it had hit the back of the net, which garnered much derision from the away supporters. Just when the game appeared to be heading for a scoreless draw, Thomas was the coolest player on the pitch, taking his time when one on one with the keeper to slot home the cheekiest of winners for Drogheda with 86 minutes on the clock. Bohemian FC: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan, Cian Byrne (Keith Buckley 71), Rob Cornwall (Markuss Strods 90), Jordan Flores; Connor Parsons (Rhys Brennan 81), Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney, Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Adam McDonnell 81), James Clarke. Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keely, James Bolger (John O'Sullivan 87); Owen Lambe, Luke Heaney (Shane Farrell 77), Ryan Brennan (George Cooper 87), Daragh Markey, Conor Kane; Dare Kareem (Joshua Thomas 63), Thomas Oluwa (Warren Davis 63).
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda begin FAI Cup defence in style despite heroics from Crumlin 'keeper Morgan Daly
Two-hundred-and-fifty days after their unforgettable triumph at Lansdowne Road, Drogheda's 2025 FAI Cup defence kicked off with a comfortable victory over non-league Crumlin United. In just the second of the two games the Louth club have in their unusual July schedule, goals from Conor Keeley, Thomas Oluwa, Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and John O'Sullivan saw the cup holders prevail with their biggest FAI Cup win since last year's 9-0 third-round victory over Wilton United. Rather than kicking off their Conference League campaign next week, having been sensationally kicked out of the competition by Uefa last month due to multi-club ownership rules, Kevin Doherty's men will now fly out to Spain next week for a mid-season training camp with their name safely in the hat for the third-round draw, with the club not in action next until a league trip to Bohemians on August 1. The scoreline would have been greater had it not been for Crumlin 'keeper Morgan Daly, who pulled off a string of excellent saves, but for the Leinster Senior League side, playing their first competitive match ahead of their season, a giant-killing act wasn't to be here. It was the visitors who created the first chance of the tie, as Calum Bridgeman tested Luke Dennison, and for most of the opening half the Boynesiders found themselves frustrated by the men from Dublin 12. There was more frustration for the hosts when Conor Keeley saw his volley denied by a top-drawer save by Daly before the break, but from the resulting corner, came the breakthrough. Owen Lambe's corner found the head of Keeley, who cleverly got away from his marker and found the top corner. After the restart it took Drogheda just three minutes to double their lead. The visitors coughed up possession too easily as Luke Heeney slotted Oluwa through. The striker was given far too much space to roam around the edge of the box, before unleashing a rocket into the roof of the net. Moments later, Daly pulled off a quite incredible point-blank save from a Fuhad Kareem header that 99 times out of 100, the 19-year-old striker would score, but any hopes of a potential Crumlin comeback were extinguished with 20 minutes left on the clock by substitute Thomas. The Swansea loanee marked his first appearance since February 21 by winning and burying a penalty to put the tie to bed, having recently returned from a quad injury. Markey added the fourth six minutes later before O'Sullivan, who signed on loan from Shamrock Rovers earlier this week, hit the fifth on 85 minutes with his first FAI Cup goal on his Drogs debut, as the cup champions began their defence on the right note. Drogheda United: Dennison; Quinn, Keeley (Harper-Bailey 76), Bolger; Lambe, Brennan (Farrell 58), Heeney (O'Sullivan 58), Kane (Cruise 70); Markey; Oluwa, Kareem (Thomas 58). Crumlin United: Daly (Donnelly 83); McNeill, MacGabhann, Friel (Murphy 63), Funge; Whelan, Bridgeman (Byrne 83), Coughlan (O'Mara 63), McKay (Lawlor Brennan 75); Kavanagh, O'Donohoe. Referee: O Moran
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United's heavy defeat in Derry doesn't tell the full story
Everyone seems to have an opinion about Drogheda United's recent performances and which camp you're in depends on whether you're a glass half-empty or glass half-full character. Those who are giving out about negative tactics and berating players for all manner of 'mistakes' will justify their view by stating that the Boynesiders have won just once in their last six games and have slipped from first to fourth in the table. Taking a different view, though, the two defeats Drogheda have shipped in that time have been against the current top two teams and only the top two - Shamrock Rovers and Derry City - have taken more points than Kevin Doherty's men from the last three matches. The Drogs have suffered all manner of problems in recent weeks and yet they're hanging in there, still competing for a coveted European spot through the league as well as planning to make a strong defence of their FAI Cup crown. They weren't exactly down to the bare bones at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last Friday night, but there was little experience on the subs bench and a couple of the starters probably shouldn't have been involved at all given their current level of fitness. The opening half-hour didn't exactly set pulses racing as Derry probed without looking particularly dangerous, while Drogheda held their line and mounted a couple of promising attacks. Gavin Whyte sent one shot straight into the hands of visiting keeper Luke Dennison and a Sam Todd effort was blocked by Conor Keeley, but the Boynesiders' defence was eventually unlocked all too easily by a Derry corner kick. Michael Duffy played the set piece short, received the ball back and floated in a cross from the byeline that was headed home by Todd under no real pressure. The second goal arrived just three minutes later and was equally poor from a Drogheda perspective as Duffy got in behind the defence, evaded the outrushing Dennison and hooked the ball goal-wards. Andrew Quinn somehow got back to scoop the ball off the line, but none of his colleagues were on their toes to complete the clearance - indeed three of them just stood and watched - and Ronan Boyce was following up to divert the rebound to the net. At 2-0 Drogheda already had a mountain to climb, but 60 seconds later they had a great chance to haul themselves right back into the match when Aaron Harper-Bailey - making only his second start of the season - whipped a superb ball in behind the Derry defence for the on-rushing Thomas Oluwa, who bore down on goal, only to have his driven shot superbly parried by Brian Maher. A Carl Winchester goal on the stroke of half-time was ruled out for offside and the score remained at 2-0 for most of the second half, during which youngsters Dare Kareem, Scott Brady and Bridel Bosakani all saw game time and made useful contributions. Conor Keeley had a couple of efforts which failed to hit the target and Douglas James-Taylor had a shot blocked by Mark Connolly, but for the most part Derry were comfortable and they put the icing on the cake from their perspective with a third goal deep into stoppage time. Again Duffy was involved, taking an angled shot which Dennison blocked rather unconvincingly with his boot, and the rebound seemed to strike Danny Mullen on the shin before squirming over the goal-line. DERRY: Brian Maher 7; Ronan Boyce 7, Hayden Cann 7, Mark Connolly 7, Kevin Holt 7, Sam Todd 7; Gavin Whyte 8 (Danny Mullen 76, 7), Sadou Diallo 7 (Adam O'Reilly 63, 6), Carl Winchester 8 (Paul McMullan 76, 6), Michael Duffy 8; Liam Boyce 7 (Robbie Benson 75, 6). Subs not used: Shane Ferguson, Ciaron Harkin, Pat Hoban, Seaon Patton, Arlo Doherty. DROGHEDA: Luke Dennison 7; Andrew Quinn 7, Conor Keeley 7, Aaron Harper-Bailey 8; Owen Lambe 7, Ryan Brennan 6 (Scott Brady 55, 7), Luke Heeney 6, Conor Kane 7 (Kieran Cruise 55, 7); Shane Farrell 6 (Darragh Markey 60, 7); Douglas James-Taylor 7 (Bridel Bosakani 88), Thomas Oluwa 6 (Dare Kareem 60, 7). Subs not used: Zishim Bawa, Sean McCarthy, Evan Haddock, Jack Brady Attendance: 3,700
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke wins monthly honour for May
Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke who has been hugely instrumental in the Hoops charge back to the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table has won the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland POTM award for May. The Dubliner scored four goals and two assists as his form continues to improve over the half-way stage in the title race. He has revelled in his seven appearances over the month so much so that he outscored Drogheda United's Conor Keeley and third placed Tommy Lonergan of Waterford FC in the nationwide poll. Burke has won four league titles and one FAI Cup winners' medal (2019) and he was capped three times for Ireland in the summer of 2018 against France, USA and Poland. He scored his only goal against the Americans in Dublin and, in doing so, became the first home-based, goal-scorer since April, 1978 when Ray Treacy, also of Shamrock Rovers, netted for Ireland against Türkiye. "I haven't won this award for a long time (2018), but having said that, I am delighted to have won it for the month of May. I think it's just the third time I have won the soccer writers award and the last time was back in 2018 when I was capped at international level. "Our form at Rovers has been excellent – one defeat in nine and just three setbacks in all – we just go out and try to do what we do best. We know as a group what we are capable of and we have a system we play that works well for us. "The three defeats came early on at the start of the league campaign and off the back of a short pre-season and it took us a few weeks to get up to speed. We have been on a good run lately and we want to keep that going for a long as we can. The team have been performing well week in, week out and it's not just down to me," said Graham. Rovers who are going for five league titles in six seasons are currently the highest goalscorers and have the meanest defence in the top flight. "It's game-by-game with us but it's great to be top of the table at the half-way stage. Things can change quickly in this league, it's so competitive, but I can guarantee you, that we won't be getting carried away just yet," he added.
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kevin Doherty hails Drogheda Utd star as ‘best defender in League of Ireland' after late heroics against Waterford
KEVIN DOHERTY reckons Conor Keeley is the best defender in the League of Ireland right now. The 27-year-old's late, late goal rescued a point for the Drogs against summer break second in the Premier Division. 2 Conor Keeley scored Drogheda Utd's equaliser against Waterford Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 2 Kevin Doherty hailed him as one of the best defenders in the League of Ireland Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile And Doherty believes the Meath man is a class apart on current form. The United boss said: 'There were proper questions asked of us and we've come away with a point. 'It would have been easy for us to lie down but Conor Keeley, who is the best defender in the league at the minute in my view, comes up with a big goal. 'It's the fifth goal for him from centre-back. We're a decent side in second place going into the mid-season break and I'm not sure many would have predicted that. I know that for sure. Read More on League of Ireland 'We're really happy and we'll look forward to getting some freshness back.' While Doherty says he has a 'decent side' on his hands, Blues gaffer John Coleman believes he has the best footballing team and is aiming for Europe . Hitmen Tommy Lonergan and Pádraig Amond twice put them in front only for Warren Davis and then Keeley to peg them back. Coleman added: 'Football is a funny game because we've drawn 2-2. It feels to us like a loss and to them like a win. Most read in Sport 'I've been on the end of that many times. I'm more disappointed for my players because of how well we played — and it was two completely styles of football . 'I've nothing against the way they play. I'm not one of these people who turn their noses up on styles of football. Whatever is effective is effective. They are really good at what they do, I respect it a lot. Cork City fans watch League of Ireland clash against Dundalk in cinema 'We play a different style. We dominated the game for long periods , kept our shape, but maybe overplayed it a little bit in the second half. We pinned them back so they couldn't lay a glove on us until injury-time. 'We've defended set-plays and corners really well since I've been here. It's a cheap header for the first one and it's a ridiculous goal for the second. He's put it in from a yard with his feet. That's the disappointing thing. 'We're probably the best footballing side in the league at the minute and we've told the lads that if they don't think they can make Europe then don't come back after the break.'
