EARLY GOALS IN each half from Ciaran Kilduff and Sean O’Connor handed Shamrock Rovers all three points against Drogheda United at United Park. This 2-0 win leaves them within three points of third-placed St. Patrick’s Athletic going into next Friday’s final round of games.
With an inferior goal difference however, Rovers can’t qualify for Europe through the league. They’ll have to wait and see what happens in next month’s FAI Cup final to see whether they will have a continental sojourn next season. Ending the season on a high though was high on Pat Fenlon’s list of priorities with two games to spare. That, at least, was in their control. From start to finish, they controlled proceedings by the Boyne.
Ciaran Kilduff scored after just four minutes to hand Rovers the lead. The striker already scored against the Louth men four times in league and cup this season. He made no mistake from close range after Simon Madden sent in a cross from the right and Kilduff steered the ball past Micheal Schlingermann.
Just moments earlier, sloppy Drogheda passing gave the ball straight to Gary McCabe who fed the lone striker. His shot from 20 yards was parried away by Schlingermann. It was a warning that wasn’t heeded.
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Pat Fenlon’s men, looking for just their second away league victory under the new manager, dominated throughout. Despite missing Stephen McPhail and Patrick Cregg from the middle, they displayed crisp passing and quick movement that had Drogheda beat. The home side’s chances were scarce. In the first half, only Peter McGlynn’s shot from Paul Andrews’ knockdown went close.
The biggest cheer of the night, from the home support, was when news filtered through of Dundalk’s difficulties in Bray. For their own side, it was to get worse minutes into the second half. In the driving rain, another Simon Madden delivery was met at the back post by Sean O’Connor who headed past Schlingermann after the goalkeeper flapped at the cross. Madden now has contributed 10 assists in the league this season. Some feat from right back.
Gary O’Neill had a penalty claim waved away late on, rightfully so it looked, before Ciaran McGuigan curled a fantastic effort onto the post of Barry Murphy’s goal in injury time. It was a close as Drogheda came. Crowd favourite and goalscoring legend Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien was a late substitute on what may be his last ever game at United Park. He was left frustrated.
Rovers excelled and deservedly took away the points.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Micheal Schlingermann, Peter McGlynn, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan (Ciaran O’Connor, 92), Shane Grimes, Gavan Holohan, Stephen Maher (Declan O’Brien, 79), Adam Wixted (Paul Crowley, 52), Carl Walshe, Paul Andrews, Gary O’Neill.
Substitutes: Dylan Connolly, Sean O’Connor, Roy Kierans, Garreth Brady.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Barry Murphy, Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Luke Byrne, Shane Robinson, 72), Robert Bayly, Ronan Finn, Gary McCabe, Ciaran Kilduff (Karl Sheppard 82), Sean O’Connor (Kieran Marty Waters, 68).
Substitutes: Craig Hyland, Stephen McPhail, Robert Cornwall, Dean Kelly.
Kilduff and O'Connor on the mark as Rovers impress in Drogheda
Drogheda United 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
EARLY GOALS IN each half from Ciaran Kilduff and Sean O’Connor handed Shamrock Rovers all three points against Drogheda United at United Park. This 2-0 win leaves them within three points of third-placed St. Patrick’s Athletic going into next Friday’s final round of games.
With an inferior goal difference however, Rovers can’t qualify for Europe through the league. They’ll have to wait and see what happens in next month’s FAI Cup final to see whether they will have a continental sojourn next season. Ending the season on a high though was high on Pat Fenlon’s list of priorities with two games to spare. That, at least, was in their control. From start to finish, they controlled proceedings by the Boyne.
Ciaran Kilduff scored after just four minutes to hand Rovers the lead. The striker already scored against the Louth men four times in league and cup this season. He made no mistake from close range after Simon Madden sent in a cross from the right and Kilduff steered the ball past Micheal Schlingermann.
Just moments earlier, sloppy Drogheda passing gave the ball straight to Gary McCabe who fed the lone striker. His shot from 20 yards was parried away by Schlingermann. It was a warning that wasn’t heeded.
Pat Fenlon’s men, looking for just their second away league victory under the new manager, dominated throughout. Despite missing Stephen McPhail and Patrick Cregg from the middle, they displayed crisp passing and quick movement that had Drogheda beat. The home side’s chances were scarce. In the first half, only Peter McGlynn’s shot from Paul Andrews’ knockdown went close.
The biggest cheer of the night, from the home support, was when news filtered through of Dundalk’s difficulties in Bray. For their own side, it was to get worse minutes into the second half. In the driving rain, another Simon Madden delivery was met at the back post by Sean O’Connor who headed past Schlingermann after the goalkeeper flapped at the cross. Madden now has contributed 10 assists in the league this season. Some feat from right back.
Gary O’Neill had a penalty claim waved away late on, rightfully so it looked, before Ciaran McGuigan curled a fantastic effort onto the post of Barry Murphy’s goal in injury time. It was a close as Drogheda came. Crowd favourite and goalscoring legend Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien was a late substitute on what may be his last ever game at United Park. He was left frustrated.
Rovers excelled and deservedly took away the points.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Micheal Schlingermann, Peter McGlynn, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan (Ciaran O’Connor, 92), Shane Grimes, Gavan Holohan, Stephen Maher (Declan O’Brien, 79), Adam Wixted (Paul Crowley, 52), Carl Walshe, Paul Andrews, Gary O’Neill.
Substitutes: Dylan Connolly, Sean O’Connor, Roy Kierans, Garreth Brady.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Barry Murphy, Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Luke Byrne, Shane Robinson, 72), Robert Bayly, Ronan Finn, Gary McCabe, Ciaran Kilduff (Karl Sheppard 82), Sean O’Connor (Kieran Marty Waters, 68).
Substitutes: Craig Hyland, Stephen McPhail, Robert Cornwall, Dean Kelly.
REFEREE: Graham Kelly (Cork)
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