1 v 2 
Drogheda UtdDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 June 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Drogheda delight in Sligo
An early goal in each half from Chris Lyons gave Drogheda United enough to see off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds this evening in the Premier Division.
A late consolation goal from Shane Blaney on his first start for the club wasn’t enough for Rovers, as Tim Clancy's men were deserving of the win.
Drogheda took the lead early on, as Darragh Markey caught Sligo skipper Greg Bolger in possession and played in Lyons, With still with very much to do Lyons spotted McGinty off his line and lob the ball over the young Scot to give the visitor the lead nine minutes in.
Sligo probed the side from the Wee County in search of an equaliser, but could not break down the tenacious Drogheda defence.
In fact, it was Tim Clancy's side who looked likeliest to score with Mark Doyle forcing Mahon to put his body on the line for the Bit O’Red as he has done time and time before, as well as another effort striking the outside of the post.
Sligo's best chance came when Gibson turned the Drogheda defence inside out only to be fouled on the edge of the penalty area, his shot however, sailed over the bar without troubling Odumosu in the Drogheda goal.
Every attempt for Sligo to get a foothold on the game was thwarted as the Drogs were closing down in numbers and full of energy.
Sligo started the second half lively with the introduction of Johnny Kenny and Colm Horgan but Drogheda were able to step up a gear and continue their high pressure every time Rovers got the ball.
The Bit O’Red had some early chances with McCourt, Banks and Gibson all coming close.
The second goal of the game, however, came when Markey once again released Lyons on the right of the box, this time Lyons’ thunderbolt strike rattled the back of McGintys net.
Sligo's attempts to get back into the game were fruitless as United upped their energy closing out almost every opportunity with Markey asserting himself in all areas of the pitch.
Sligo captain Bolger began to show why he was awarded 'Player of the Month' for May, releasing Kenny, Gibson and DeVries on several occasions but they could not create any advancement, bar the odd corner.
The game got a bit heated as we approached the final few minutes, Johnny Kenny looked to have kicked out however, the referee chose only to punish Figueira and Massey for getting involved when unnecessary.
On the stroke of 90 minutes Sligo got their break through as Shane Blaney reacted quickest as the ball rebound from a corner to ensure a dramatic ending.
With four minutes of injury time to play Liam Buckley's men threw everything at Drogs, however it was a little too late and Drogheda close the gap on the league leaders to just six points.
The defeat for Sligo means Shamrock Rovers move ahead on goal scored.
Timeline
| 9' | 9. Chris Lyons | |
| 18. Robbie McCourt | 41' | |
| Niall Morahan Colm Horgan | 46' | |
| Mark Byrne Johnny Kenny | 46' | |
| 61' | 9. Chris Lyons | |
| 62' | Ronan Murray Killian Phillips | |
| 69' | Chris Lyons Dinny Corcoran | |
| 10. Walter Figueira | 78' | |
| 78' | 14. Dane Massey | |
| 78' | Darragh Markey James Clarke | |
| Ryan DeVries Cillian Heaney | 89' | |
| 4. Shane Blaney | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 8)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers |
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
4LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Drogheda United FC |
Officials
| Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Hennessy | Allen Lynch Emmett Dynan | Damien MacGraith |
Ground
| The Showgrounds |
|---|
| The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland |
full time here 2-1 to the visitors
sligo throwing everything at drogs now
4 minutes added here
Sligo pull one back here, with Blaneys first for the club, its going to be an interesting few minutes
Cillian Heaney makes his debut coming on for DeVries
Drogs closing down every time a sligo player touches the ball, really stopping sligo from playing with 3 + minutes to go
Clarke comes on for the superb Markey
Figueira and Massey receive yellows for getting involved in an altercation
15 minutes for Sligo to find something here
Another super ball from Bolger to the back post, this time DeVries wins a corner
Dinny Corcoran comes in to play in place of goalscorer Lyons
Bolger swings the ball to the back post, gibson gets on the end and forces another save
Drogs scream for handball in the area but the ref was having none of it
Killian Phillips replaces Murray for Drogheda
Markey finds Lyons wide on the right and his strike is powerful and rattles the back of the net for Drogs
Kenny lays up Gibson but he strikes just over the bar, Sligo really forcing it here
Rovers hit the cross bar with banks unable to hit the net
Stike from McCourt forces Odumosu to make his first real save of the game
mix up at the back for Drogs, the ball drops to DeVries but his angle is bad, he wins a corner however
Drogheda into the ascendancy and Mahon has to concede a corner
Kenny has invigorated the Sligo team after the break, already setting up an attack as well as getting on the end of the cross
Morahan and Byrne come do not come back out for the second half for Sligo
Horgan and Kenny come on at half time for Sligo
half time here at the showgrounds 1 nil Drogheda
Rash challenge from McCourt see him receive the first yellow of the game
Gibson shot goes over the bar
Gibson turns inside and out and wins a free in promising position for Sligo
Mark Doyle has been a thorn in the Sligo defence, he's just screwed another shot just wide
Almost a second for Drogs as they strike the woodwork
Drogheda are working very well here, not allowing sligo get a foothold on this game
Time and time again John Mahon has put his body on the line for Sligo and he is called on once again
Sligo are probing here with Banks and Byrne linking up well on the right
Game on now at the showgrounds as Sligo go in search of an equaliser
Greg Bolger caught in possession by Markey who put Chris Lyons in to lob McGinty in the Sligo goal 1 nil to the visitors
Drogs now with an attack which results in their first corner
First real attack of the game, sees rovers earn a corner
Drogheda get us underway
The Bit O'Red Academy is showing up tonight with Sean McAteer being added to the bench making 9 of the match day squad academy graduates.
Drogheda team news, Ronan Murray starts against his former side.
Sligo team news, Blaney and DeVries start in place of the injured Buckley and suspended Parkes
Welcome to FinalWhistle.ie for this evenings coverage of Sligo Rovers clash with Drogheda United in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. Team News coming shortly.