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Date Time League Season
25 February 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Shels grab first win under Duff

Shelbourne secured their first win of the season under Damian Duff, beating Drogheda United 2-0 at Head in the Game Park.

The story of the first half was half-chances and scrappy play in the middle of the park, but after 53 minutes new signing Dan Hawkins broke the deadlock.

Mark Coyle ran clear through on his lonesome to wrap things up in stoppage time, slipping it past McCabe.

The first half delivered on the cagey affair that was expected. The first 15 minutes saw Shels constantly trying to pass out from the back only for play to be broken up by the home midfield.

The story of the first was half chances and neither team could take control. The best one probably came from Reds skipper Luke Byrne when his curling effort tested Colin McCabe.

Aodh Dervin looked like the only spark for the away team, but Mark Hughes and Dane Massey were solid in the first half for the hosts.

As soon as Dan Hawkins got the opener  in the 53rd minute Drogheda went flat for a period and Shels looked a much more confident side.

The only slight remedy for this flatness was the introduction of multiple subs such as new signings Adam Foley, Dean Williams and George Poynton, who added some energy temporarily at least.

Poynton and Williams both went close with respective free-kicks but Lewis Web was equal to them. The visitors continued to manage the game and defend well.

Jack Moylan was probably their most lively and would have added the second if it wasn’t for multiple stops by McCabe.

Even though the Louth side had Shels boxed in as they chased the leveller, it never really felt like they would do it.

A wave of relief was sent through the away stand when Mark Coyle burst clear of the entire Drogheda team in stoppage time and calmly converted the cushion goal as four Drogs men chased close behind.

Duff will be delighted to get off the ground.  Kevin Doherty will need to address a problem that seems to be carrying from last season, by where Drogheda drop their heads far too easily after conceding.

Drogheda Utd

1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
3Evan Weir 16 Defender
4Andrew Quinn Defender
7Darragh Markey Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder
9Chris Lyons 17 Forward
10Dylan Grimes 11 Midfielder
14Dane Massey Defender
22James Clarke Midfielder
24Darragh Nugent 26 Midfielder 34'
45Mark Hughes Midfielder
2Sean Roughan Defender
11Adam Foley 10 Forward
15Mohamed Boudiaf Defender
16Dayle Rooney 3 Midfielder 80'
17Dean Williams 9 Forward
18Charles Mutawe Defender
26George Poynton 24 Midfielder
28Evan Haddock Defender

Shelbourne

25Lewis Webb Goalkeeper
2John Ross Wilson Defender 78'
3Conor Kane Defender
4Aaron O’Driscoll Defender
8Mark Coyle Midfielder 90'
80'
10Jack Moylan 7 Midfielder
11Dan Hawkins 22 Forward 53'
14Daniel Carr 9 Forward
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder 67'
23Luke Byrne Defender
32Kameron Ledwidge Defender
1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
7Brian McManus 10 Midfielder
9Sean Boyd 14 Forward
12Jad Hakiki Midfielder
15Adam Thomas Defender
17Shane Farrell Forward
19Stanley Anaebonam Forward
22Jordan McEneff 11 Midfielder
24David Toure Defender
  • Final score Drogheda 0-2 Shelbourne!

  • 90'

    Coyle wraps it up running clear of the entire Drogheda team to slot it past McCabe. 2-0

  • 85'

    Moylan replaced by Brian McManus

  • 81'

    Dean Williams with an innovative free-kick drilling it under the wall but Lewis Webb saved brilliantly

  • 80'

    Rooney and Mark Coyle booked respectively for an off the ball tustle

  • 78'

    John Ross Wilson receives a yellow for a late one on Dane Massey. The hosts fighting hard but the Tolka Park outfit look ever dangerous on the counter

  • 76'

    Dayle Rooney replaces Weir for the Drogs

  • 74'

    The Dubliners threatening a second on the break. Moylan missing a one on one with McCabe after getting in behind

  • 73'

    Dean Williams comes on for his debut and Lyons goes off as the home side look for the leveller.

  • 69'

    Jordan McEniff comes on for goalscorer Hawkins

  • 69'

    Poynton nearly equalising off the bench as his effort had to be scrambled off the line. Drogheda finding some fight now

  • 67'

    Dervin booked for a very high challenge on James Clarke in the centre

  • 63'

    Since the goal Drogheda seem flat and the away side are playing with more confidence. Their touches are more crisp and passes more accurate

  • 60'

    Double sub from the hosts as Doherty tries to sway the newfound Shels dominance. George Poynton and Adam Foley make debuting competitive appearances replacing Darragh Nugent and Dylan Grimes

  • 56'

    Sean Boyd replaces Daniel Carr for Shelbourne

  • 53'

    Goal! Daniel Hawkins breaks the deadlock and the Reds take the lead. They got to the byline where the ball was pulled back and Hawkins could latch on to it in the box, slotting it past McCabe

  • 45'

    Second-half begins in Louth

  • 45'

    0-0 at Half-time here at Head in the Game Park. Neither side has been able to really impose themselves on the game. Half-chances and fouls galore

  • 38'

    The visitors' skipper Luke Byrne tested Colin McCabe's goal with a strong effort from the defender as the ball came loose from a free-kick

  • 34'

    Booking for Darragh Nugent as he intentionally pulled down former Drogs man Conor Kane who was breaking

  • 30'

    Aodh Dervin looks sharp for the Dubliners in the middle. One of his incisive passes could be key as Shels' main threat so far has been a counter attack

  • 26'

    The hosts are starting to look like the side in control. A dangerous move saw the ball pulled back to Chris Lyons on the edge but his effort was blocked before it could reach Lewis Webb in goal

  • 18'

    Early stages suggest a cagey affair as expected. Shels are trying to carry the ball out from the back but the hosts are breaking things up in the middle every time

  • 10'

    Jack Moylan showing his attacking threat again for Shels as he went on an unrelenting through the heart of the Drogs midfield but pulled the shot wide that followed. Both sides still getting a feel for things here

  • 4'

    Early chance for Evan Weir as he blazed over from a breaking corner. Kevin Doherty's men starting bright

  • 1'

    We're underway here. Drogheda in black and red, Shels in white and sky blue

  • Team News: Ryan Brennan who Drogheda signed from their opposition tonight is out with a knock. They will be tested tonight for the first time without the likes of James Brown and David Odumosu who left in the winter. The Reds are without new signing Sean McSweeney who is carrying a niggle, and JJ Lunney is still out as well as Shane Griffin

  • Damien Duff's Shels put in a respectable performance in their 3-0 loss to Pats last week but will settle for nothing less than three points. The majority of their squad have come in the door this winter and tonight they will hope to gel further and pick up a result

  • It's a chilly one here in Drogheda. The hosts are in action for the first time competitively this season as their game against Finn Harps was cancelled last week. Four new signings see themselves in the starting 11

  • Con Sheehan here reporting for FinalWhistle.ie as Drogheda host Shelbourne at Head in the Game Park. Kick-off is 7:45pm

Past Meetings

4 - 0
eLOI Group D
Online Event

Drogheda United v Shelbourne

Ground

Weavers Park
United Park, Cross Lane, Fair Gate, The Borough District of Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, A92DKR0, Ireland

21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie