Drogheda United 0
Shamrock Rovers 2
Barry Landy reports from Weavers Park
SHAMROCK ROVERS BOUNCED back from their defeat to Shelbourne a week ago by beating Drogheda United at Weavers Park, making light of the lengthy list of absentees Stephen Bradley was forced to contend with.
The Rovers boss lost Joshua Honohan, Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke and Roberto Lopes from his team seven days earlier, with the latter suspended. Sean Hoare remains on the injured list and Jack Byrne played no part either.
With their defence badly depleted, Bradley deployed midfielders Markus Poom and Darragh Nugent either side of last man standing Lee Grace. Teenager Cory O’Sullivan made a full league debut at left wing back too as Rovers bore a very unfamiliar look altogether.
If their defence was considered a cause for concern, their attack remained potent. Aaron Greene, Johnny Kenny and Graham Burke made up their frontline and all three played significant parts in securing the points. The latter two scored both Hoops goals.
On an evening where Shelbourne and Derry unexpectedly dropped points, Rovers overcoming their Boyneside hoodoo was welcome. They had not won at the old ground in four previous visits. This was the perfect time to put that right.
It had not looked altogether likely before two goals early in the second half won the game. Aaron McEneff, making his first league start of the season, shot narrowly over from range. It was a sweetly struck shot that Andrew Wogan might have struggled to deal with had it been on target.
The visitors to their credit were finding joy down the flanks, if clear cut opportunities were hard to come by. Greene attacked down Drogheda’s right at will, while Neil Farrugia’s delivered two cutbacks from the byline on the opposite side.
Drogheda were competitive in the first half too, as they were in Tallaght a month ago but this time offering more going forward. Their endeavour was even less fruitful than Rovers though.
The opener arrived 90 seconds in the second half. Greene’s superb arcing pass found Kenny, who times his run across the penalty area to perfection. The striker took a touch and sent a controlled shot beyond Wogan.
The game was won seven minutes later when Burke curled in from the edge of the area. The lack of pressure on him from a home defender was asking for trouble and it duly arrived.
Rovers sat back then, inviting United on. Only Frantz Pierrot’s diving header caused any concern. It went wide of the upright.
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Luke Heeney (Andrew Quinn, 75), Jack Keaney, Hayden Cann, Evan Weir (Conor Kane, 86); Gary Deegan, Oisin Gallagher (Matthew O’Brien, 86); Adam Foley (Ryan Brennan, 75), Darragh Markey, Zishim Bawa; Frantz Pierrot (Killian Cailloce, 86).
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Darragh Nugent, Lee Grace, Markus Poom; Neil Farrugia (Richard Towell, 67), Conan Noonan, Aaron McEneff (Cian Barrett, 86), Cory O’Sullivan; Aaron Greene, Graham Burke (Dylan Watts 76), Johnny Kenny (Cian Dillon, 86).
Referee: Robert Harvey
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Let’s hope Scotland bottle it like they did in their independence referendum.
To be honest I’ll be disappointed enough if, atleast a handful of lads don’t moon em shouting freedom!
this is a proper game
okay deflection but I still think a decent keeper would have saved it
what’s he takin Wes off for?!!
I’m sorry but where was the f*cking urgency in those last 5 to 10 minutes
One word-drab
Not the team I would have picked but I am not the manager. Here’s hoping MO’N knows something the rest of us don’t! COYBIG!
No anya in Scotland team!!
not confident at all to be honest. n ire, Scotland and Wales all on the rise while we seem to be gettin worse, or at least not progressing much
we reap what we sow, total lack of support & investment in our league
Anyone else agree that Ronnie Whelan shouldn’t have the commentary gig for such an important match? I think every second thing he says makes me grind my teeth. Why couldn’t they have given the job to Giles?
Playing with a diamond midfield I think, 1-0 Ireland win. COYBIG
Rte player down. What the hell do I do???
watch porn instead
Is there a more unlikeable player around than Naismith?
Ronaldo. At least he’s a great player though
Looked like offside, 5 million to Scotland
You have stay positive #COYBIG
COYBIG
Scottish jersey looks like someone puked on it
That Naismith is an awful pr*ck. He’d also give Tom Daley a run for his money in the diving stakes.
This game is made for McClean & Long
And walters…. G’won
Nice start, keep it up! COYBIG
why is shane long still sitting on the bench?baffling.
C’mon Ireland! 1 more now!
And no dirty stuff!!!!
Get McCarthy off now. The lads head isn’t in the game at all. looks like he’s trying to get himself sent off
Mon now Ireland ta f**k! doesn’t even have to be pretty. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr just feckin do it lads
Great atmosphere. The fans are really noisy. The team are playing with great attitude. And it’s 1-0… This game reminds me of Irl v Holland in 2001 when we won 1 nil courtesy of McAteer and we went on to qualify for the World Cup. It was a Saturday too if I remember correctly.. More of the same please!!!!!!!!
Really hoping for an Ireland and a Laois win!!
Scotland have this won from the National Anthem. We are a disgrace.
it’s the euros Ryan, not the eurovision
Given, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Deflected in fairness to him. O.G.
Deflected
Yes I know this,but as a keeper myself he really should have gotten something on that playing at international level
Also, does Given know he’s allowed throw the ball to one of his defenders?
given should have readjustd simple as
Cant believe Shane Long not starting, he’s a proven scorer at premier level. Murphy ok, but scoring in lower league,
Proven scorer? Once every 4 games or so?
Really hope Ireland wins.( support Celtic after all) green`s my favorite colour ) Dunno what colour scotland’s strip supposed to stand for? Great goal from Ireland.
I’ve been prepared for the thumping we’re going get since the Poland game and this lineup offers no hope.
That’s the spirit!
O’Neill and Keane will get plenty of criticism after this but it’s time for the likes of McCarthy, Wilson, and Whelan to stand up in games like this. They are all playing for top half premier league clubs and their influence on the game today was negligible. It was poor, but I don’t think any other manager could have conjured up a performance from that group of players. Just a complete lack of leaders on the pitch when they were needed.
Is O Neill waiting for us to go 2-1 down before making a change.Murphy hasn’t done a thing
And bizarre decision to take Hoolahan off for Keane. Agree, should have been Murphy off
thought Murphy played well actually
Sorry, Murphy did play well, but faded later
Anyone else think we should have kept Trappatoni?
no.
Route 1 football on show,hoof it up and hope for the best,pure dogged effort,it’s like watching a mix between afl and tennis.Whelan and Walters thriving on it
Robbie Brady’s left foot should be made a patron saint #COYBIG
In my drunken state I have appointed him Fed Ex Brady because of his great delivery.
his delivery was brutal, don’t get that
It’s great to see Ireland winning, another home nation at the euros next year !
Home nation?
Ireland are a home nation like Wales
‘There were estimates that around 20,000 fans would travel over for the weekend — let’s hope that they don’t all have tickets’ – what a dreadful unsporting comment to make.
Well shut up about it
Murphy was terrible, look disinterested in the game, no urgency to get across defenders to try and get a header in, don’t know how o’neill and co could leave him on for 80mins and take-off Holohan. actually at half time o’neill must have told them relax Folks we have won because as a team they had no desire in that second half.
So are we out or what??