Drogheda United 0 Shamrock Rovers 1
While all eyes are on Shamrock Rovers in Europe of late, the defending champions reasserted their grip on top spot in the Premier Division as they secured an eighth straight win against Drogheda United.
Aaron Greene’s goal proved the difference but Stephen Bradley’s team were superior for the most part throughout on Sunday afternoon. Only a late Drogheda rally threatened the result but even still, they didn’t test Alan Mannus.
Rovers showed no sign that their European exploits of recent weeks were catching up with them during a dominant first half. Drogheda’s team selection suggested they expected that fatigue might catch up on their visitors as the game wore on.
Tim Clancy, serving the second game of a three-match suspension, left a clutch of senior attacking players on the bench in the hope of holding out and catching Rovers cold late in the game. That was dependent on keeping them out and with new signing Joe Redmond, formerly of Birmingham City in tow, they managed it during a one-sided first half.
Graham Burke and Chris McCann were among six changes to the Shamrock Rovers team that began the game in Albania on Thursday night. Both tested Drogheda goalkeeper David Odumosu in the early stages. In fact, most of Rovers’ chances were sighters from the edge of the area or even further out.
They could not find a goal during a first half in which they enjoyed total control. Redmond blocked superbly from a Burke volley but Rovers’ monopoly on possession counted for nothing.
That was until Greene’s strike. His fifth goal of the season came as Rovers got behind United’s rearguard for the first time. Burke delivered a low cross from the left channel that Greene gleefully tapped in. There were no Drogheda defenders in his vicinity, making his task all the easier.
Drogheda came into it thereafter, as they enjoyed their best spell after a chastening first 65 minutes Jake Hyland went closest with a close range header.
Drogheda United: Odumosu; Redmond (Murray, 64), O'Reilly, Massey (Corcoran, 80); Brown, Deegan (Heeney, 80), Hyland, Phillips, Kane; Clarke (Markey, 56); Adeyemo (Doyle, 56).
Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Hoare, Lopes, Scales; Gannon, Towell (O'Neill 77), McCann, Kavanagh; Mandriou (Gaffney, 70), Burke (Watts, 68), Greene.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath).
