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Date Time League Season
21 July 2023 7:45 pm FAI Cup 2023

Match Report

Drogheda United comeback to defeat 10 man Sligo Rovers

Goals from Adam Foley and Ryan Brennan help Drogheda qualify for the second round of the FAI Cup after coming from behind to win 2-1 in a feisty affair at Weaver's Park.

The Drogheda penalty came as a result of Danny Lafferty lashing out at substitute Kyle Robinson, giving away the second penalty of the game after Max Mata converted from the spot in the first half.

There was a real cup-tie atmosphere at the game's outset with hefty tackles by Emmanuel Adegboyega and Danny Lafferty punished by early yellow cards.

Drogheda was by far the more dangerous of the two sides in the first half, with Dayle Rooney testing Luke McNicholas from range on several occasions.

Adam Foley would be the next to try his luck with a swerving effort that moved at the last second but the Sligo keeper reacted just in time to palm the ball out of danger.

The best chance of the first half came when Foley’s deft header found Ryan Brennan’s clever run into the box, but Drogheda number nineteen could only drag his shot wide of the post.

Yet despite all of this pressure by Drogheda, Sligo Rovers were the side to strike first thanks to Max Mata’s goal from the spot.

Stefan Radosavljevic did brilliantly to find himself in the opposition box before being fouled by Drogheda skipper Gary Deegan.

After a slight delay, the New Zealander did what his fellow All-Black Ria Percival couldn’t against Norway in the opening game of the Women’s World Cup and slotted his penalty past Andrew Wogan in the Drogheda goal.

The second half began as the weather worsened at Weaver’s Park, and the opening minutes were dominated by forced passes and loose touches.

Eleven minutes into the second half, the home side were level thanks to Adam Foley. Rooney found himself free down the left wing and crossed perfectly for Foley. Although his first attempt was stopped, the Boynesiders’ winger scooped the ball over McNicholas on the ground.

Drogheda came close thanks to Rooney’s bending free-kick but the Sligo keeper and Nando Pijnaker’s poked effort for Sligo was the closest The Bit O’ Red came to scoring a second minutes later.

Kyle Robinson was introduced in the seventy-seventh minute and immediately changed the game.

A tousle between Robinson and Lafferty in the box resulted in the two players on the deck. Lafferty, clearly angry at the way in which Robinson was helping himself up, lashed out at the Drogheda substitute and was promptly shown a straight red and a penalty was awarded to the home side.

Richard Brush was shown a red card on the Sligo bench before Brennan calmly slots the ball past McNicholas, securing a spot in the second round of the FAI Cup.

One final piece of drama saw McNicholas head up for a last-gasp free kick, managing to find the ball at his feet before lifting the ball over the bar.

Drogheda hold on and make a huge statement before the two sides meet here next week in the League.

Drogheda Utd

35Andrew Wogan Goalkeeper
3Evan Weir Defender
5Conor Keeley Defender
6Emmanuel Adegboyega Defender 1'
7Darragh Markey Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder 95'
11Adam Foley Forward 56'
16Dayle Rooney Midfielder
19Ryan Brennan Midfielder 80'
21Luke Heeney Midfielder
28Darragh Noone 9 Midfielder
1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
9Kyle Robinson 28 Forward
14Matthew O’Brien Midfielder
18Jamie Egan Defender
20Emre Topcu Midfielder
22Aaron McNally Forward
24Warren Davis Midfielder
29Michael Leddy Forward
37Luke Wade-Slater Midfielder

Sligo Rovers

1Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
2Johan Brannefalk Defender
3Danny Lafferty Defender 8'
78'
6Greg Bolger Midfielder
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
21John Mahon Defender
27Max Mata Forward 41'
79'
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
34Kailin Barlow 26 Midfielder
10Frank Liivak 9 Forward
18Stefan Radosavljevic Forward
31Conor Walsh Goalkeeper
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper 92'
9Pedro Martelo 10 Forward
19Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt Midfielder
22David Cawley Midfielder
26Garry Buckley 34 Midfielder
39Kyle McDonagh Defender
46Conor Reynolds Defender
47Owen Elding Forward
  • 95'

    McNicholas pokes over. Surely that's it.

  • 95'

    Yellow for Deegan. Free kick in a dangerous area for Sligo.

  • 92'

    Yellow for Max Mata.

  • 90'

    Radosavljevic heads just wide of the Drogheda goal. Five minutes of added time.

  • 85'

    Long range effort by Evan Weir sails well over the bar. Straight from the kick-off Mata races in behind but is stopped well by Wogan.

  • 80'

    A red card was also shown to the Sligo bench after Lafferty was dismissed.

  • 80'

    GOAL! Another penalty is converted and Drogheda are ahead. 2-1!

  • 77'

    PENALTY and Red card for Lafferty for swinging at Robinson. Brennan to take.

  • 75'

    Kyle Robinson comes on.

  • 75'

    Darragh Noone comes off.

  • 70'

    Martelo and Buckley come on.

  • 70'

    Barlow and Liivak off.

  • 69'

    OFF THE BAR! Pijnaker pokes an effort off the bar after a Sligo corner.

  • 66'

    Rooney takes the free and narrowly misses past McNicholas's left hand side.

  • 66'

    Free kick in a dangerous area for Drogheda. Mahon booked as a result of a hefty tackle on Rooney.

  • 62'

    The home fans have found their voice after the equaliser. Sligo set up for a corner as Ryan Brennan receives attention.

  • 56'

    GOAL! 1-1. Rooney gets down the left to cross for Foley and even though his first effort was saved, his follow up ends up in the back of the net. Game On!

  • 53'

    Weir crosses the ball into the box but the ball is incepted and poked off McNicholas before being cleared. That could have gone anywhere.

  • 51'

    A header by Markey just outside the six-yard box goes harmlessly wide of the Sligo goal.

  • 46'

    And were back underway in Drogheda as the conditions worsen. A typical summer Friday in Ireland.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: A penalty by Max Mata separates the two sides at half-time. Drogheda United have played most of the football in this first half but find themselves behind.

  • 45'

    One minute of added time.

  • 43'

    Straight from the kick-off Brennan strikes a deflected shot that spins just over the bar. A series of corners follow and end with a diving header by Brennan that just sails over the bar.

  • 41'

    1-0! Mata makes no mistake to put Sligo a goal ahead completely against the run of play

  • 40'

    PENALTY FOR SLIGO. Radosavljevic fouled in the box. Mata steps up.

  • 38'

    Markey intercepts Lafferty's poor clearance and send Foley down the wing but his cross is snuffed out.

  • 35'

    Rooney delivers a low ball into the box but McNicholas comfortably gathers under no pressure.

  • 33'

    Foley pounces on a header on from Brennan and finds Rooney in the box, but his effort is sliced wide of the keepers post.

  • 30'

    The game is opening up more, Sligo with a corner after a deflected Brannefalk shot. Headed clear by Adegboyega again to set Drogheda away but their counter comes to nothing.

  • 27'

    Free kick for Drogheda in a dangerous area just left of centre outside the Sligo box. Adegboyega's effort can only find the advertising hoarding.

  • 22'

    Nice play on the edge of the box by Drogheda and the home side are playing most of the football in this first half.

  • 18'

    The first real sustained passage of play by Sligo ends with a strike by Radosavljevic but it is comfortable for Wogan.

  • 15'

    Play has been stopped due to a clash of heads between Noone and Mahon. Both are up again and will play on.

  • 13'

    BIG CHANCE! Foley heads the ball onto Brennan who made a run into the box but can only drag the ball wide

  • 12'

    Brannefalk crosses for mata but Wogan comes out to claim the ball.

  • 10'

    Drogheda corner thanks to a blocked shot by Rooney. The corner finds Rooney again but the result is the same.

  • 8'

    Lafferty booked for a reckless tackle.

  • 7'

    Foley shoots and the swerve catches McNicholas off guard but does enough to keep it out

  • 6'

    Drogheda get their first shot on target by Rooney but it is straight at McNicholas who gathers at the second attempt.

  • 5'

    A snapshot on the turn by Barlow sails well wide of the Drogheda goal

  • 1'

    First tackle and first yellow for Adegboyega

  • 1'

    And we're underway, Drogheda in their usual claret and blue and Sligo draped in all white.

  • TEAM NEWS: Sligo Rovers make one change from the side that dominated Cork City at The Showgrounds last Saturday. Frank Liivak is inserted into the starting lineup in place of Will Fitzgerald.

  • TEAM NEWS: Drogheda name an unchanged team to the side that won away from home last week at the Belfield Bowl. New signing Luke Wade Slater is on the bench for the first time since joining the club.

  • Hello everyone and welcome to the live coverage of the FAI Cup from Weaver's Park. Today's match is an all-Premier Division clash between hosts Drogheda United and their visitors Sligo Rovers. Conor Cantwell is in Drogheda ready to report on the game ahead.

Past Meetings

(Round 10)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC 1-1 Drogheda United FC

(Round 3)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC 1-0 Sligo Rovers FC

(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

Conor Cantwell is a freelance sports journalist based in Co. Meath. Conor has been covering club football in Ireland and England since 2022. Conor has a keen interest in soccer, Gaelic games, rugby, tennis and basketball and has been writing blogs about the Premier League and the NBA since 2022.