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Date Time League Season
11 March 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Super Sligo ease past Drogheda

Sligo Rovers eased past Drogheda United 3-0 tonight making a success of the long trip to Head in the Game Park.

The Bit O’Red took the lead on seven minutes when Lewis Banks nodded home from a corner. Max Mata crossed into the box from the left wing for a Jordan Hamilton goal on 20 minutes to add a second.

The visitors got the third in style as Hamilton sprayed it elegantly out left to Will Fitzgerald who lifted his head and buried a long range effort past Sam Long with 34 minutes played.

The score line wasn’t ultimately reflective in terms of ball retention and Drogheda took the game to Sligo. It was more a case of Drogheda being overly passive with their possession in the first half and Rovers capitalising on this with clinical finishing.

The Drogs showed great energy levels in the first half but a key problem was the pressing trap from Sligo, which forced the entirety of the home sides play down the left and often left Dane Massey with no options when playing out.

Meanwhile debutants Max Mata and Jordan Hamilton were outstanding up top for the Bit O’Red. Hamilton was constantly picking up space in the number 10 pockets while Mata’s hold up play complimented this.

It only took Sligo seven minutes to take the lead despite the early Drogheda urgency, as Banks headed home from a corner. Mata crossed from the left for Hamilton to poach the second after 20 minutes and from here Claret and Blue heads started to drop.

The third for the Showgrounds outfit was a piece of quality on 34 minutes. Mata set it for Hamilton who nonchalantly sprayed it out wide to Fitzgerald who proceeded to blast home from 20 yards out.

The second half was all Drogheda but only to an extent because the points still always felt like Sligo’s. The hosts received a penalty for a handball a few minutes in but George Poynton blasted it wide.

From here on the Drogs were very positive for the remainder and Kevin Doherty’s three substitutions at half time added some renewed energy. Dean William’s went close a couple of times in the half but they either missed the target or Richard Brush saved.

Ultimately Drogheda weren’t out of sorts tonight but were too wasteful of chances and possession which allowed Sligo to easily manage the game, and how much can you really sugar-coat a 3-0 loss at home. The win sees the visitors right up near the summit of the table now.

Drogheda Utd

31Sam Long Goalkeeper
2Sean Roughan Defender
3Evan Weir 5 Defender
7Darragh Markey 16 Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder
11Adam Foley 10 Forward
14Dane Massey Defender
17Dean Williams 25 Forward
22James Clarke 24 Midfielder 19'
26George Poynton Midfielder
45Mark Hughes Midfielder
1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
4Andrew Quinn Defender
5Keith Cowan 3 Defender
10Dylan Grimes 11 Midfielder
15Mohamed Boudiaf Defender
16Dayle Rooney 7 Midfielder
18Charles Mutawe Defender
24Darragh Nugent 22 Midfielder
25Killian Cailloce 17 Forward

Sligo Rovers

30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender 7'
7Will Fitzgerald Midfielder 34'
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
10Jordan Hamilton 11 Forward 20'
14Karl O’Sullivan 22 Forward
17Adam McDonnell 12 Midfielder
19Paddy Kirk Defender
26Garry Buckley 4 Midfielder
27Max Mata 9 Forward
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
31Conor Walsh Goalkeeper
3Colm Horgan Defender
4Shane Blaney 26 Defender
5Robbie McCourt Defender
6Greg Bolger Midfielder
9Aidan Keena 27 Forward
11Seamas Keogh 10 Midfielder
12Mark Byrne 17 Midfielder
22David Cawley 14 Midfielder
  • Full-time here at Head in the game Park. It finishes Drogheda 0-3 Sligo

  • 89'

    Killian Cailloce is the final sub for Drogheda, replacing Williams

  • 87'

    It's been a cagey and uneventful final period and the spoils look to be safely with Buckley's men

  • 81'

    Williams with a strong effort from the edge but Brush is equal to it. The Drogs can't find the consolation

  • 79'

    Mark Byrne and David Cawley are introduced for Sligo as O'Sullivan and Adam McDonnell come off

  • 74'

    Dylan Grimes comes on for Foley with 25 to go

  • 73'

    Sean Roughan nearly scores a brilliant goal for Drogheda after a burst through the centre and a shot that flew past the top left stantion

  • 70'

    Two more subs from Liam Buckley. The fantastic Mata and Hamilton come off as Seamus Keogh and Keena enter the fray

  • 67'

    The Drogs come close again. Foley combines nicely with Dean Williams but Foley drags the subsequent shot just wide

  • 64'

    The ball breaks for Nugent in a good area for the claret and blue but the youngster blazes his effort over

  • 62'

    Shane Blaney replaces skipper Gary Buckley for the visitors

  • 58'

    The fresh blood off the bench has improved the Louth side's game approaching the hour. The Bit O'Red still looking comfortable however

  • 49'

    Penalty for the home side straight into the half as the ball was crossed low and the Sligo defender stopped it with his arm. Frustration for the Drogs though as George Poynton blasts the spot kick wide

  • 45'

    Kevin Doherty makes three subs for the second period as he looks for a solution. Keith Cowan, Darragh Nugent and Dayle Rooney all come on replacing Darragh Markey, James Clarke and Evan Weir

  • Half-Time in Head in the Game Park. Sligo comfortably leading by three goals to nil

  • 40'

    The showgrounds outfit are denied a fourth. Long saves excellently again, this time in a one on one with Mata

  • 36'

    James Clarke is unlucky not to have got one back as he drove through the middle and saw his effort hit the post. Regardless though Drogheda look completely flat now and all their possession has been mostly passive

  • 34'

    A piece of true quality from Sligo to make it 3-0. It was Mata again who dropped off and laid it to Hamilton in the pocket. Hamilton sprayed it beautifully to Will Fitzgerald who took one look up and buried it from long range

  • 29'

    The Bit O'Red look in control now after the cushion goal and continue to threaten. It could be a similar story by where the Drogs start well but capitulate after conceding

  • 27'

    It's the same threat once again for the North Western side. Mata sets Hamilton who hits a speculative effort with his left that went a whisker wide

  • 20'

    2-0 Sligo. The strikers link up down the left as Mata crosses for a Jordan Hamilton goal

  • 15'

    Drogheda look dangerous but Sligo look more poised and relaxed. Their midfield is also pressing the Drogs wing-backs well and forcing he centre-halves to go central when playing out.

  • 12'

    The away side should have doubled the lead but Sam Long brilliantly saving Karl O'Sullivan's effort and Gary Deegan blocking well on the follow up.

  • 7'

    The Drogheda urgency goes unrewarded as the Bit O'Red take the lead through Lewis Banks. The ball was flicked on at the near post after a corner and eventually Banks nodded home on the six yard box

  • 5'

    A rasping effort from the edge from Adam Foley stung the gloves of Richard Brush and also nearly saw Foley convert the scraps

  • 3'

    The hosts have started with real urgency and aggression. A strong early tackle from Darragh Markey in the centre was representative of this

  • 1'

    Sligo get us underway in Louth

  • Sligo Team News: The reliable Ed McGinty is ill so Richard Brush starts in goal instead. Aidan Keena is among the subs which sees New Zealander Max Mata debut up top for the visitors

  • Drogheda Team News: Many changes from the UCD game. Sam Long is in goal for his debut after being injured in pre-season so Colin McCabe drops to the bench. Chris Lyons is out with injury so Adam Foley gets his first competitive start

  • Both of these sides are looking for their second win of the season. The Drogs come off a 4-2 win to UCD and Sligo remain unbeaten thus far

  • Con Sheehan here back at Head in the Game Park as Drogheda take on Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division. This one kicks off at 7:45

Past Meetings

(Series 33)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United

(Series 26)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

(Series 15)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United

(Series 8)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC

3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC

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