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Drogheda United 2 Shamrock Rovers 2
Sunday, 05 April 2009 21:59

A draw was just about right in the end as these two sides served up a cracking ninety minutes that sent the large crowd home in good spirits but with both sets of fans pondering what might have been.


Drogheda were behind, drew level, took the lead but in the end had to be content with a share of the spoils as Rovers grabbed an equaliser five minutes from time.


United totally dominated the opening half and should have scored on a number of occasions but were caught with a classic sucker punch by Rovers.


In the opening stages James Chambers cross from the right was destined for the inrushing John Paul Kelly who but for a timely headed interception by Simon Madden was denied a clear header on goal.


Chambers himself was then only inches away from opening his side’s account with a fine shot from the edge of the box and former favourite Shane Barrett almost made it a dream return to United colours when he turned his man twenty five yards out before unleashing a cracking strike that shaved the timber.


With 18 minutes gone the woodwork came between the home side and their first goal of the season when Paul Crowley raced clear down the right wing and crossed for Kelly who cracked his volley off the post.


Totally against the run of play a couple of minutes later Rovers took the lead from a corner on the right which saw the ball bobble about the six yard line for Gary Twigg to  poke it home.


This setback didn’t deter Drogheda who went close to equalising on a couple of occasions before the break.  Robbie Clarke’s free was cleared out to Barrett who forced keeper Barry Murphy to make the save and Barrett’s probing sent Chambers into the visitor’s box but again Murphy was smartly off his line to make the stop.


Justice was done at the start of the second half when a slip by Rovers defender Madden allowed Paul Shiels race clear through the middle and drive his powerful off Murphy’s gloves to the net.


The visitors then had a couple of opportunities to restore their lead as Daragh Maguire headed Stephen Bradley’s corner over and Steve Williams did really well to deny Dessie Baker who appeared certain to score.


As the action now swung frantically from end to end Barrett guided his header narrowly over for the home side while at the other end Baker’s pull back picked out Stephen Rice who fizzed his effort wide when he really should have hit the target.


Drogheda hit the front on 73 minutes when Chambers crossed for Robbie Farrell who blasted to the net.


But Rovers conjured up an equaliser five minutes from the end of the match when Madden’s cross found sub Padraig Amond at the back post who guided his header past Williams .


In a frantic finish both sides had chances to win but Twigg’s header flew wide and Farrell six yards out missed a touch on Crowley’s ball with the Rovers goal gaping.

Drogheda:  Williams, Ryan, Clarke, Kenna, McNally, Shiels, Kelly (King 86)), Crowley, Chambers, Farrrell, Barrett (Duffy 89).

Shamrock Rovers:  Murphy, Madden, Bermingham, Maguire, Webb, Robinson, Rice, Twigg, Bradley, Cahill (Purcell 77), Baker (Amond 80).  

D. Hanney (Dublin).
 
 
 
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