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Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United face Derry rematch in FAI Cup as squad escape rain in Spain
Needless to say, the management team and players were delighted to be greeted by hot sunshine when they touched down on the Costa Dorada, but manager Kevin Doherty was keen to point out that this is a working trip for his players ahead of their return to league action away to Bohemians on Friday week. Speaking after the first training session at the resort between Salou and Cambrils, Doherty said: 'Shamrock Rovers were here last year and the facilities are unbelievable. The training pitch is an absolute carpet and we're going to make the most of it. 'We left Dublin in the lashing rain and it's roasting here. It's 28 degrees now at 7.30 in the evening, so we have to tailor the training a bit. 'We did our first session there and we've double sessions then on Tuesday and Wednesday and one on Thursday and Friday - home Saturday. 'Everyone is in good form and the lads are really enjoying it.' The travelling party included the likes of youngsters Dare Kareem, Scott Brady and Sean McCarthy, but Elicha Ahui and Zishim Bawa stayed back in Ireland due to injury. 'We have a lad here as well who we are having a look at,' Doherty added. Meanwhile, the squad and management tuned into the FAI Cup third-round draw on Tuesday at lunchtime and Drogheda's reward for beating Crumlin United 5-0 last Friday is an away trip to Derry City in a repeat of last year's final which Drogheda famously won 2-0 in the Aviva Stadium. The sides have played three times already this season, with the Boynesiders losing the most recent meeting 3-0 at The Brandywell Stadium but drawing 1-1 at Sullivan & Lambe Park and winning 3-1 in the north west back in April. Speaking before the draw, Doherty said he was satisfied with the performance against Leinster Senior League outfit Crumlin United overall. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It was one of those games where we just need to score and then things open up a bit,. 'The lads were patient enough and their keeper made some unbelievable saves, but the main thing was to get through and we did that quite comfortably. 'We all know how special this competition is - we really know! - and we're confident whoever we get in the next round.' FAI CUp 3rd round draw Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers Kerry FC v Cobh Ramblers Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town Cork City v Waterford Salthill Devon v Galway United St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne Derry City v Drogheda United Bohemians v Sligo Rovers (ties to be played week ending Aug 17)
The 42
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Five-star Drogheda dismiss non-league Crumlin United to begin title defence
Drogheda United 5 Crumlin United 0 Barry Landy reports from Sullivan & Lambe Park DROGHEDA UNITED BEGAN their defence of the FAI Cup in style by hitting non-league Crumlin United for five at Sullivan & Lambe Park. Whilst it was not the nine-goal hammering they dished out to Munster Senior League side Wilton United in last year's competition, it was no less comprehensive as Drogheda dominated from start to finish. The home side did not score until the 45th minute – through a Conor Keeley header – but they pressed home their superiority after the break through goals from Thomas Oluwa, Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and John O'Sullivan. For Keeley, Thomas and O'Sullivan, theirs were first career FAI Cup goals. Advertisement It was an emotive night for Crumlin, with a minutes silence before the game dedicated in part to Nicole McNeill, the sister of player Ian, who passed away during the week. Ian took his place in the side at right back. Kevin Doherty certainly demonstrated his intent by selecting a strong XI to take to the field against the non-league outfit. Drogheda do have a sparse looking July with no European trips in their calendar. Thomas appeared as a substitute after almost five months out with a quad injury – scoring a penalty to put United two goals ahead – and O'Sullivan, on-loan from Shamrock Rovers ensured he had a debut to remember with a late goal of his own. It was a perfect night Keeley opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time – heading in Owen Lambe's corner – and Oluwa added it to just two minutes after the restart. Had the game not been over as a contest by that point, there was no way back for Crumlin. Oluwa's strike was eye-catching – a piledriver from 20 yards, but replays suggested it look a touch on the way past overworked goalkeeper Morgan Daly. He was a standout performer for a team that were under the cosh throughout. So too was winger Reece Kavanagh. He won a corner off James Bolger after one of his multiple darts into Drogheda territory in the first half. He was fleet of foot throughout and while the visitors did not test the goalkeeper, it was likely anything they would muster might come from the 19-year-old. Kavanagh had bagged two in Crumlin's 4-2 victory over Lucan United in round one but this was a much sterner test for them. Related Reads Cork City's Callum Honohan to join brother at Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers boost survival hopes as Derry City's title hopes take a hit Roy Keane ad and RTÉ boss miss the point as League of Ireland fans drive culture change Thomas, on loan from Swansea City, was fouled by Anthony Kay and slotted the spot kick beyond the goalkeeper himself. Markey made it four from close range soon after. O'Sullivan's 85th minute goal was well taken. Any one of several United men could have tested sub goalkeeper Ryan Donnelly. O'Sullivan did and beat him. Doherty's team are enjoying a fine season and a return to the Aviva Stadium in November will surely be in their sights, whatever obstacles the draw throws up. For now though, a trip to Salou for a training camp next week awaits in their immediate future. Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley (Aaron Harper Bailey 76), James Bolger; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan (Shane Farrell, 60), Luke Heeney (John O'Sullivan, 59), Conor Kane (Kieran Cruise, 70); Darragh Markey; Thomas Oluwa, Dare Kareem (Josh Thomas, 60). Crumlin United: Morgan Daly (Ryan Donnelly, 83); Ian McNeill, Josh MacGabhann, Jack Funge, Aidan Friel (Kyle Murphy, 63); Jamie Whelan, Samuel O'Donoghue; Calum Bridgeman (Kane Byrne, 83), Ben Coughlan (Brian O'Meara, 63), Reece Kavanagh; Anthony Kay (Synnott Lawlor Brennan, 75). Referee: Oliver Moran
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 Examiner
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Professional job sees Drogs cruise into next round with victory over Crumlin
FAI Cup: Drogheda United 5 Crumlin United 0 The chances of the FAI Cup holders falling victim to an upset at the first hurdle were slim to begin with but Drogheda United produced an altogether professional job to see off Crumlin United at Sullivan and Lambe Park and take the first step towards retaining the cup. Goals from Conor Keeley, Thomas Oluwa, Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and John O'Sullivan got their cup defence off to the perfect start on an altogether pleasing evening for Kevin Doherty, who demonstrated his intent by selecting a strong XI to take to the field against the non-league outfit. Thomas appeared as a substitute after almost five months out with a quad injury – scoring a penalty to put United two goals ahead – and John O'Sullivan, on-loan from Shamrock Rovers ensured he had a debut to remember with a late goal of his own. Conor Keeley had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time – heading in Owen Lambe's corner - and Thomas Oluwa added to it just two minutes after the restart. Had the game not been over as a contest by that point, there was no way back for Crumlin. Oluwa's strike was eye-catching – a piledriver from 20 yards, but replays suggested it took a touch on the way past overworked goalkeeper Morgan Daly. Keeley's opener was his first career FAI Cup goal, surprisingly, but Thomas and O'Sullivan would soon follow suit. The Welshman, on loan from Swansea City, was fouled by Anthony Kay and slotted the spot kick beyond the goalkeeper himself. Markey made it four from close range soon after. O'Sullivan only arrived at the club in midweek, a temporary addition to the Drogheda ranks from Shamrock Rovers, and made it a debut to remember with an 85th minute goal. Any one of several United men could have tested sub goalkeeper Ryan Donnelly. O'Sullivan did and beat him. Doherty's team are enjoying a fine season and a return to the Aviva Stadium in November will surely be in their sights, whatever obstacles the draw throws up. For now though, a trip to Salou for a training camp next week awaits in their immediate future. DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Quinn, Keeley (Harper-Bailey, 76), Bolger; Lambe, Brennan (Farrell, 59), Heeney (O'Sullivan, 58), Kane (Cruise, 70); Markey; Oluwa, Kareem (Thomas, 59). CRUMLIN UNITED: Daly (Donnelly, 82); McNeill, MacGabhann, Funge, Friel (Murphy, 63); Whelan, O'Donoghue; Bridgeman (Byrne, 82), Coughlan (O'Meara, 63), Kavanagh; Kay 6 (Lawlor Brennan, 75). Referee: Oliver Moran
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty wary of Crumlin ‘threats' as holders begin defence of FAI Cup crown
Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty has left no stone unturned to ensure his squad are fully prepared for Friday's Sports Direct FAI Cup second-round tie at home to Crumlin United (kick-off 7.45pm).
