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Date Time League Season
3 March 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Foley flick helps Drogheda to victory over Sligo

A dogged Drogheda performance resulted in the Boynesiders getting their first win of the season, beating Sligo Rovers 1-0 at Weaver’s Park and maintaining their unbeaten start. Kevin Doherty’s side were ultimately deserved winners, having the majority of their chances in the first half but scoring the winner through Adam Foley in the second. 

Drogheda started the game very brightly, pressing very well as Sligo tried playing out, and had the better of the chances in the opening 15 minutes. Ryan Brennan flashed a lovely ball across the box as Adam Foley connected with it but his shot was parried out by McNicholas for a corner. A few minutes later and Darragh Markey played a lovely through ball to Draper, but Sligo captain Nando Pijnaker followed his run and blocked his shot out for another corner. 25 minutes in and the problems that have plagued Dublin Airport this week arrived at Weaver’s Park as play was halted for a drone over the pitch. A few minutes later though, we were back underway and the match continued in much the same vein. A Dayle Rooney cross was cleared to the edge of the box where Ryan Brennan met it on the half-volley with a lovely strike that just went over the crossbar. 

Sligo were able to muster one big chance in the first half though as Reece Hutchinson’s deflected cross came to Kailin Barlow’s feet and his shot hit off McCabe in the Drogheda net who was really none the wiser to it. 

The second half then produced the opening goal, which came just after a shocking 5-yard miss from Freddie Draper in the 55th minute. Dayle Rooney, who’s delivery had been brilliant from open play and set pieces all evening, played a ball into the box and Adam Foley steered in front of Clancy to volley a looping effort over the helpless McNicholas to put Drogheda 1-0 up. 

This seemed to bring the game to life as only a few minutes later, controversy arose. Substitute Fabrice Hartmann found himself through on goal and was hacked down by Elicha Ahui. The referee originally gave a penalty but, after conferring with his linesman, reversed the decision to a free kick. Hartmann tool the resulting set piece and his stunning effort hit the bar and bounced on the line and out. 

Drogheda did not let off and kept up the pace, trying to find a second. Sligo really did not create much in the last 20 minutes, except for a distant Reece Hutchinson effort in the 92nd minute as the “Drogs” continued their great start to the campaign.

Drogheda Utd

1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
2Elicha Ahui Defender 65'
3Evan Weir Defender
5Conor Keeley Defender
6Emmanuel Adegboyega Defender
7Darragh Markey Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder
9Freddie Draper Forward
11Adam Foley 10 Forward 59'
16Dayle Rooney Midfielder
19Ryan Brennan Midfielder
12Fiachra Pagel Goalkeeper
10Dylan Grimes 11 Midfielder
17Jarlath Jones Defender
18Sean Brennan Midfielder
20Emre Topcu Midfielder
21Luke Heeney Midfielder
24Warren Davis Midfielder
28Darragh Noone Midfielder
29Michael Leddy Forward

Sligo Rovers

1Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
2Johan Brannefalk 14 Defender 73'
4Reece Hutchinson Defender
7Will Fitzgerald 11 Midfielder
8Niall Morahan 18 Midfielder
10Frank Liivak Forward
19Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt Midfielder
27Max Mata Forward
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
34Kailin Barlow 59 Midfielder 65'
41Eanna Clancy 21 Defender
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
5James Finnerty Defender
3Danny Lafferty Defender
11Fabrice Hartmann 7 Midfielder
14Karl O’Sullivan 2 Forward
21John Mahon 41 Defender
18Stefan Radosavljevic 8 Forward
22David Cawley Midfielder
59Bogdan Vastsuk 34 Midfielder
  • 96'

    It's full time here at Weaver's Park and Drogheda have beaten Sligo 1-0. The home side came out on top and were deserved of their first win of the season, coming from a great Adam Foley finish just on the hour. Drogheda now travel down to Bohemian FC in Dalymount on Monday whereas Sligo host St Patrick's Athletic. I'm Gary Dowling, thanks for joining me this evening.

  • 92'

    A good strike on the half volley from Reece Hutchinson there from about 25 yards out, just wide of McCabe's left hand post.

  • 90'

    Another six minutes added on, not sure where that has come from.

  • 85'

    Final substitution for Sligo as John Mahon replaces Eanna Clancy.

  • 77'

    Three changes here, one for Drogheda and another two for Sligo. Goalscorer Adam Foley is replaced by Dylan Grimes and for Sligo, Barlow and Brannefalk are replaced by Vastsuk and O'Sullivan

  • 75'

    The ball is loose in the box here and again breaks out to Ryan Brennan who's tame lob is cleared off the line.

  • 74'

    A hectic five minutes there has calmed. Still some debate over whether Hartmann's effort was over the line, it does look as though the referee got it right though.

  • 67'

    A superb effort from Hartmann from the free kick hits the bar and bounces on the line (or was it, you can't really see) and the referee decides it didn't cross the line.

  • 64'

    Penalty overturned. Was well outside the box. Ahui is booked and a free kick given to Sligo.

  • 64'

    Penalty for Sligo! Hartmann breaks through 1 on 1 and is hacked down by Ahui, it doesn't look as though it's in the box though... We wait for the refeee's ultimate decision here.

  • 59'

    A great finish from Adam Foley to break the deadlock! Another lovely Rooney ball in as Foley gets in front of Clancy and loops a volley over McNicholas and into the Sligo net.

  • More drone activity, how fun! Some substitutions too though for Sligo, as Morahan and Fitzgerald make way for Hartmann and Radosavljevic.

  • 55'

    How have Drogheda not scored!? A lovely ball by Rooney to the back post is headed across goal from Evan Weir and from all of 5 yards out, Freddie Draper somehow manages to volley wide.

  • 53'

    A lovely bit of Drogheda play as Adam Foley is found free out on the right hand side. He lays it back to Ahui and his low driven shot is saved.

  • 48'

    A great save from McNicholas as a Rooney corner is meet by Adegboyega but the keeper pushes it out for a corner.

  • 45'

    Back underway here at Weaver's Park for the second half.

  • 50'

    And that's the first half. Drogheda have dominated proceedings here and have had a flurry of chances, pressing really well in the final third. Sligo have created through Kailin Barlow and Nando Pijnaker but other than that, have offered little.

  • 49'

    Silky footwork from Markey as his cross-cum-shot is tipped onto the bar by McNicholas and out for another Drogheda corner.

  • 46'

    6 mins added on here and a free kick for Drogheda results in a great save from McNicholas from a Foley header.

  • 44'

    A lovely one-two results in Barlow again getting a shot off but its straight into McCabe's hands.

  • 37'

    A massive chance for Sligo as Hutchinson's deflected cross reaches Barlow and his shot is flicked over by an unknowing Colin McCabe.

  • 33'

    A Rooney cross is cleared out to the edge of Sligo\'s box and is met by Brennan who connects on the half-volley really well but his shot just sails over the bar.

  • 30'

    Game has continued in much the same fashion with Drogheda dominating possession and totting up their corners.

  • 25'

    Back underway here as the drone seems to have gone.

  • 20'

    And Dublin Airport isn't the only place with drone problems! The referee has told the players to exit the pitch as a drone is overhead.

  • 18'

    The captain for Sligo tonight, Pijnaker, has been their main goal threat too. A free kick meets his head by is gathered easily by McCabe.

  • 14'

    A lovely through ball from Markey plays Draper in but he is well covered by Pijnaker who blocks his shot for a corner.

  • 11'

    First real big chance for Drogheda as Brennan flashes a ball across the box which Foley meets with and his shot is straight down McNicholas's throat who pushes it out for a corner.

  • 8'

    Game has settled a little bit now after a good Drogheda start. Only bit of attacking play from Sligo was a speculative effort from Pijnacker which sailed over.

  • 3'

    Dayle Rooney with a long range effort which doesn't trouble McNicholas in the Sligo net. Drogheda have started brightly.

  • 1'

    First real bit of action in this game as Ahui whips a wicked cross across the box but it reaches no one.

  • We are underway here at Weaver's Park slightly late.

  • The officials for this evening are Adriano Reale (Referee), Wayne McDonnell and Chris Campbell (Linesmen) and Damien MacGraith (Fourth Official).

  • The teams are in for tonight. One change for Drogheda as Emmanuel Adeboyega comes in for Ben Curtis. As for Sligo, they also only make the one change as Niall Morahan comes in for Greg Bolger.

  • Hello and Welcome to Weaver's Park where Drogheda United host Sligo Rovers this evening. I'm Gary Dowling and I will be watching this tightly-contested match-up. Team news coming next.

Past Meetings

(Round 29)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers 2-0 Drogheda United

(Round 21)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

(Round 12)
3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United

(Round 5)
0 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

(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

This second year journalism student in Dublin City University has an avid Soccer and League of Ireland fan since his first visit to the Carlisle Grounds over a decade ago.