1 v 0 
Drogheda UtdVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Boyd earns Shelbourne win over Drogheda
Sean Boyd’s crucial header gave Shelbourne a vital 1-0 win over Drogheda United tonight at Tolka Park.
After a first half of almost no clear-cut chances, Boyd met an excellent Shane Farrell cross after 50 minutes to break the deadlock.
Despite plenty of attacking substitutions and threatening play from Drogheda in the second period, they never found a way back into it and Duff’s men held on for a big three points.
It was a dull game strictly in terms of chances but there was plenty to enjoy in terms of the competitive nature of the game and the importance of it was not lost on the players. The first half saw Kevin Doherty’s Drogs sit deep and give the Reds the freedom of possession.
This worked effectively and despite high spells of possession Shelbourne created nothing. They looked most dangerous from a selection of clipped balls down the channel by Shane Farrell that Sean Boyd tried to meet but the away side dealt with it adequately.
Drogheda themselves offered nothing in the first period and as a result it was a scrappy 45 minutes where defences ruled supreme.
It didn’t take long though for this to change when after 50 minutes, the Farrell and Boyd connection came to fruition. Farrell’s cross from the right found Boyd in acres at the back stick and he headed it into the far corner past Sam Long.
The home side came alive following this and threatened for the next 10 minutes. Skipper Luke Byrne nearly doubled the advantage when his header from a corner-kick went just over the bar.
Doherty made some necessary attacking changes around the hour mark which saw the introduction of Chris Lyons and Ryan Brennan. This gave the Louth side a renewed threat for the remainder but Shels, much like in the reverse fixture, managed the game brilliantly.
They broke up the play consistently without getting bookings and restricted Doherty’s men to route one balls. Drogheda had one huge chance to snatch a draw when Lyons’ deflected shot found Brennan at the goalmouth on 70 minutes but he blazed over against his former side.
The Dubliners held on to earn a priceless three points that now sees them go five points ahead of tonight’s opponents. The Drogs are once again blessed by other results as UCD defeated Finn Harps, but regardless their form continues in the wrong direction this evening.
Timeline
| 23. Conor Kane | 34' | |
| 9. Sean Boyd | 50' | |
| 59' | Dane Massey Ryan Brennan | |
| 61' | Dean Williams Chris Lyons | |
| 65' | Darragh Nugent Dylan Grimes | |
| 65' | Evan Weir George Poynton | |
| Shane Farrell Kameron Ledwidge | 82' | |
| Jack Moylan Stanley Anaebonam | 89' | |
| 94' | 19. Ryan Brennan |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 2)
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United v Shelbourne |
4 - 0eLOI Group D
Online Event Drogheda United v Shelbourne |
Ground
| Tolka Park |
|---|
| Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland |
Con Sheehan
21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie
Full-time here in Drumcondra. Shelbourne 1-0 Drogheda United
Yellow for a frustrated Brennan
Straight away Anaebonam breaks clear of the whole defence but his effort is blocked by a retreating Poynton
Stanley Anaebonam comes on for Moylan with five added on
Half-chance for Brennan who heads wide from a pacey cross
The away side being restricted to route 1 balls at the moment as they chase an equaliser and Shelbourne sit back
Kameron Ledwidge replaces Farrell for the hosts who put in an excellent performance but leaves the pitch with an injury
Duff's men doing a good job here at running down the clock and breaking up the game as the Drogheda subs have added some threat
Huge miss from the sub Brennan for the Drogs. Lyons' effort deflected towards him at the goalmouth but he blazed his attempt well over
Another double sub from Doherty as George Poynton and Dylan Grimes replace Weir and Darragh Nugent
Kane with a huge opportunity as he goes 1on1 with Long but hits it square at the Scottish international
Damien Duff's men have really come alive since the goal and look the much better side at the moment
Chris Lyons also replaces Dean Williams up top
A much needed attacking change from Kevin Doherty as Ryan Brennan comes on in place of captain Massey
Skipper Luke Byrne nearly doubles the Dubliners' lead as his powerful header goes just over following a corner
Goal for Shelbourne! Boyd finds space at the back post and latches onto a cross from the right from Shane Farrell to head past Sam Long
Dane Massey with a cross that looked to worry Clarke for a second but it went harmlessly over
Back underway here
Half-time at Tolka Park and its Shelbourne 0-0 Drogheda United
Weir puts in a teasing low ball but Clarke comes out and just about collects. A good move there from the Claret and Blue
Still very even approaching the interval and still no real chances but this hasn't taken away from the entertainment
Kane booked for a thorough 50/50 on Andrew Quinn
Half-chance for Louth side as Evan Weir gets on a loose ball from a corner but hits it tamely at Brendan Clarke
Defences on top here with a half hour gone and neither team can carve out anything noteworthy. The Reds just slightly the better of the two so far
Conor Kane causes his former side a real issue with a mazy run down the left but the away team get the resulting cross clear
Consistently Shane Farrell of the home side is looking for a clipped ball in behind for the target man Sean Boyd and its looking more dangerous with each effort
Still no notable opportunities but Drogheda finding some rhythm and starting to move the ball around
The Drogs dropping off here in the first 10 allowing their opponents to control possession in their own half
Shelbourne have the visitors pinned back here but no clear chances as of yet
Hosts getting the early touches here. A fast tempo early on as well
Late change from Damien Duff: Aodh Dervin starts in midfield instead of Mark Coyle for Shels
Drogheda team news: Darragh Markey and Adam Foley remain injured while Chris Lyons is on the bench with a knock he picked up against Pats last week. Formerly of Shels, Dayle Rooney is in the first 11
Shels team news: Conor Kane starts against his former side and Seam Boyd leads the line. Adam Thomas, Jordan McEniff, Brian McManus and Sean McSweeney are all out
A sunny Drumcondra hosts what could be a very consequential game as these sides, placed seventh and eighth, look to gain some distance from Finn Harps and UCD in the relegation spots
Con Sheehan here reporting Shelbourne v Drogheda United at Tolka Park in the Premier Division. Kick-off is 7:45 pm.