Details

Date Time League Season
3 September 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Drogheda and Sligo fail to make breakthrough

Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw and neither side could find a breakthrough at 'Head in the Game' Park.

Drogheda manager Tim Clancy was sent off in the final minute of normal time on his return from suspension as he saw his side unable to break down a Sligo side that lost its last seven matches in a row.

A master class in defending from John Mahon meant the hosts could only threaten from set pieces

Neither side looked like breaking the deadlock in the first half with the most dangerous of attempts coming from Sligo Left back Robbie McCourt, who hasn’t put a foot wrong on his return from injury, his winding shot from 30 yards forcing David Odumosu into a fine save.  

Other than that, there were no real glaring opportunities with both keepers comfortable. Ed McGinty has been relatively comfortable with a solid back four in front of him, Notably John Mahon and Garry Buckley regaining that solid partnership they formed earlier in the season. 

Droghedas best chances have come from set pieces and counter attacks, with Dan O’Reilly flashing the ball across McGintys goal from 25 yards out and Jordan Adeyamo attacking with great vigour.  

The second half began lively with both sides trying to force a goal with Darragh Markey and Andre Wright threatening for their sides respectively. 

Neither team seemed to want to hold possession as the ball went from end-to-end for some time without either keeper ever feeling under pressure. 

The best chance of the game fell to the hosts as Dan O’Reilly smashed the crossbar with a header, from a trademark Ronan Murray corner. 

John Mahon challenged well to deny many attempts to breach his defence. He even made a cameo at the other end of the field beating his man with a stepover and swinging in an inviting cross only for it to evade all except Walter Figueira. The latter didn't expect the ball to reach him - the ball striking his arm in the process. 

The Bit O’Red emptied the youth off the bench bringing on Johnny Kenny, Seamus Keogh and Mark Byrne. However none of them were able to make a lasting impact. While Drogheda fans got to see a cameo of their newest signing Ahu Obhakhan coming on it the dying moments, his only contribution was to be on the end of a crunching Mahon challenge as he welcomed the former Shelbourne player back to the league. The two-time NEC Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year retaliating and receiving a yellow card for his troubles. 

Frustration grew on the home sides bench as manager Clancy, on his return from suspension; picked up two yellows in 30 seconds and was send to the stand by referee Rob Harvey as the game grew to a close. 

Bohemians are next up for Drogheda at Head in the Game Park on Friday 10th while Sligo go in search of their first win in 8 as they host St Patrick's Athletic on the same evening.

Drogheda Utd

23David Odumosu Goalkeeper
2James Browne Defender
3Conor Kane Defender
5Daniel O’Reilly Defender
7Darragh Markey 22 Midfielder 23'
11Jake Hyland 17 Midfielder
14Mark Doyle Forward
19Killian Phillips Midfielder
24Joe Redmond Defender
20Jordan Adeyemo 31 Forward
21Luke Heeney Midfielder
1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
10Dinny Corcoran Forward
13Sam O’Brien Defender
15Mohamed Boudiaf Defender
17Ronan Murray 11 Forward 83'
18Charles Mutawe Defender
22James Clarke 7 Midfielder
41Dane Massey Defender
31Ahu Obhakhan 20 Forward 88'

Sligo Rovers

1Ed McGinty Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
5Robbie McCourt Defender
8Niall Morahan 11 Midfielder
9Ryan DeVries 12 Forward
10Walter Figueira Forward
17Adam McDonnell Midfielder
21John Mahon Defender
22David Cawley Midfielder
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
44Andre Wright 24 Forward
3Colm Horgan Defender
4Danny Kane Defender
11Seamas Keogh 8 Midfielder
12Mark Byrne 9 Midfielder
19Regan Donelon Defender
20Darren Collins Forward
24Johnny Kenny 44 Forward
27Romeo Parkes Forward
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
  • 90'

    Full Time as it remains scoreless

  • 90'

    with moments left to play neither side look like making the breakthrough

  • 90'

    4 minutes added

  • 90'

    Drogheda manager Tim Clancy is sent off on his return from suspension

  • 88'

    Mahon welcomes Obhakahn to the league with a crunching challenge, Obhakhan retaliates and sees yellow

  • 83'

    Murray booked

  • 83'

    Obhakhan and Clarke enter for drogs as Adeyamo and and Markey make way

  • 81'

    Mark Byrne replace DeVries for sligo

  • 81'

    After a little delay, Drogheda swing in a corner and Dan O'Reilly smashes a header off the crossbar

  • 74'

    Just before the substitutions Mahon moved forward and with a little stepover beats his man on the wing and get a cross away, it evades all and catches Figueira off guard and strikes his arm

  • 75'

    Sligo bring Johnny Kenny and Seamas Keogh on in replace of Wright and Morahan as they go in search of a goal to end their winless run

  • 72'

    nothing of note at the moment as both sides continually exchange possession

  • 65'

    The long ball game which is being employed by both sides isn't working, as the ball continually finds its way to the keepers

  • 61'

    Drogheda waste possession as they break in numbers with McGinty comfortably claiming

  • 57'

    Mahon with a number of superb challenges denying Drogheda Adeyamo of multiple occasions

  • 56'

    Drogheda threaten for the first time this half but Sligo players put their bodies on the line to block any and all attempts

  • 55'

    Wright feeds McDonnell who chooses to strike but drags it wide

  • 49'

    both sides looking lively in the early stages with Markey and Wright causing a threat

  • 49'

    both sides looking lively in the early stages with Markey and Wright causing a threat

  • 46'

    Former sligo player Murray replaces Hyland at the break

  • Sligo to get the 2nd half underway as the look to stop their losing streak

  • 45'

    half time at head in the game park as the game remains scoreless

  • 45'

    2 minutes added at the end of this half

  • 44'

    game is really bubbling up in the final minutes with Adeyamo and Wright threatening for their respective sides

  • 42'

    Both side seem to have identified where the danger will come from and are dealing with it as such

  • 39'

    Sustained pressure for drogs and the go in search of an opener

  • 36'

    O'Reilly strikes wide from the free

  • 36'

    Cawley catches Heeney just outside the rovers box,

  • 33'

    Drogheda break through Adeyamo but Mahon comes across strong and disrupts any danger

  • 31'

    Drogheda best chance so far as the ball is swung deep into the box, Banks clears the danger for sligo

  • 29'

    McCourt strikes from distance forcing Odumosu to pull off a fine save

  • 28'

    Drogheda are chasing shadows as the bit o'red pass the ball well around their own half

  • 26'

    Super pass long diagonal from Redmond resulting in a corner for the home side,

  • 23'

    Markey sees yellow as he streches for a ball and catches Buckley

  • 21'

    Wright is yards from goal but his shot is blocked away for a corner

  • 20'

    Sligo go long for DeVries but Dan O'Reilly is there to clear the action

  • 19'

    McCourt hasn't missed a beat so far tonight, hard to tell he has been out of action for 3 months

  • 17'

    Shouts for a spot kick as Figueira goes down under pressure in the box, referee Rob Harvey is having none of it

  • 16'

    long ball from drogs and McGinty leaves his area and heads clear confidently

  • 14'

    the home side are pressuring rovers well forcing them back to mcginty on a number of ocaisions

  • 8'

    End to end at the moment but no actual threat

  • 4'

    Drogs get the ball into the box but Sligo clear their lines easily

  • 2'

    Sligo have started well, Wright looking to open his Rovers account early

  • 1'

    drogheda get us underway

  • Both teams making final preparations as we approach kick off with 10 minutes to go

  • New signing Obhukhan starts on the bench for the Drogs

  • Robbie McCourt returns to the starting 11 after his injury, Greg Bolger remains out, And there a debut for new strike Andre Wright

  • While Drogs today announced the signing of 24 year old centre forward Ahu Obhakhan from NIFL side Institute

  • The Bit O'Red recently made two additions in the form of Andre Wright and Melvyn Lorenzen and both are available for selection this evening

  • Welcome to coverage of Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers as the two side clash in the SSEAirtricity Premier Division

Past Meetings

(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

Officials

RefereeFourth Official
Robert HarveyDerek Tomney

Ground

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