Shamrock Rovers 4
Drogheda United 1
Aaron Gallagher reports from Tallaght Stadium
SHAMROCK ROVERS KEPT the heat on Bray Wanderers for an an elusive European place on Friday night with a dominant 4-1 victory against a Drogheda United side who are now nine games without a win in the Premier Division.
Rovers travel to Iceland next Thursday to face Stjarnan in the Europa League first round of qualification and know securing European football again for next season will be the minimum expectation as the club continues to grow exponentially from underage football to the expansion of Tallaght Stadium.
Drogheda had just one win in their last nine league games heading into Friday night’s fixture and have been sucked back into the battle to beat the drop in the month.
Pete Mahon’s side have scored the least number of goals this season while also conceding the most and have just four wins from 19 games in 2017.
One of those four wins, however, came when they beat the Hoops in the reverse fixture in April thanks to a last minute own goal from Graham Burke in United Park.
Thanks to a suspension incurred before the mid-season break against St Pat’s Stephen Bradley was without the playmaker’s services in this game, but created chances in abundance in spite of his absence.
Gary Shaw and in particular Michael O’Connor were persistent threats up front, combining well with right-back Simon Madden on the wing as well as Trevor Clarke and midfielder Brandon Miele in the centre of the park.
O’Connor hit the post after half an hour when Miele fooled Drogheda’s Colm Deasy with some fine dancing feet on the outskirts of the penalty area.
Miele’s front-post cross was hit first time by the striker, however his effort destined for the bottom corner pinged off the bottom of the post and back out in the closest chance of the opening period.
Drogheda had chances of their own, however they were rare during an opening half which ended with a bombardment of green and white shots reigning down on United goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness’ goal.
A counter attack against the run of play with some swift build-up play saw a chance come Adam Wixted’s way. However the winger took his shot first time and ultimately saw it gathered safely and assuredly by Hoops goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski.
Rovers were visibly frustrated not to have gone in at the break ahead but stole the lead from the kick-off in the second half.
A long ball into the penalty area saw Clarke maintain possession behind enemy lines before pulling the ball back to Miele to his right.
He crossed towards the back post where O’Connor batted the ball down expertly with his chest to lay the ball on a silver player for his striking partner Shaw. Shaw did not need to be asked twice and slammed a low, left-footed volley past McGuinness and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
It was 2-0 after just seventeen minutes later when 17-year-old substitute Aaron Bolger played a perfectly weighted through ball to Clarke who sped away at lightning speed.
The 20-year-old prospect, who his manager this week compared to Ireland captain Seamus Coleman and who has been linked with a transfer to Premier league club Southampton, raced onto the ball and stuck it between the legs of goalkeeper McGuinness in a fine finish to seemingly wrap up the three points.
Or so it seemed. Drogheda pulled a goal from no-where to silence the home crowd when Mark Doyle’s cross was lifted over goalkeeper Chencinski by Sean Brennan to make it 2-1 with well over twenty minutes remaining.
It was a freak moment of lapse from the goalkeeper and it spelled the beginning of a nervy end to the game as Rovers tried to cling onto their slim lead.
Second-half substitute James Doona ensured the win with ten minutes remaining with a fine low finish from the edge of the box which put an end to any hopes of a Drogheda comeback.
This before teenager Bolger added another in stoppage time, his first senior goal for the club, as Rovers strolled confidently to a 4-1 win as they prepare to face into Europe next Thursday.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Tomer Chencinski, Simon Madden, David Webster, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne, Trevor Clarke (Darren Meenan 77), Ronan Finn, Ryan Connolly (Aaron Bolger 60), Brandon Miele, Gary Shaw, Michael O’Connor (James Doona 65)
DROGHEDA UNITED: Stephen McGuinness, Colm Deasy, Luke Gallagher, Ciaran McGuigan, Stephen Dunne (Conor Kane 84), Adam Wixted, Richard Purdy, Ryan McEvoy, Mark Doyle, Ryan Masterson, Stephen Elliott (Sean Brennan 36)
Referee: Sean Grant
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It was always so striking how average he was on tour and how outstanding he was in the ryder cup
@Joe Bloggs: striking? Seems to be his main m at the moment.
@The don: *problem
@Joe Bloggs: He wasn’t average. Pablo Larrazabal was average, Damien McGrane was average. Poulter won as many tournaments as anyone over the last 10-15 years, and contended in majors. Flash tw*t though.
@Armchair Follower: joe couldn’t agree moe, he certainly wasn’t average. He’s won 12 european competitions
Well he’s finally been proven right. He really is at Tiger’s level now.
I’d have more sympathy for him if he was as modest as luke Donald or Paul Casey! Himself and Lee Westwood have a certain arrogance!
He’ll get plenty of invites i’m sure, so plenty of chances to get it back!
He’s always got his Social Media to fall back on :)
Graeme McDowell still plays golf?!