Trevor Clarke 7' | 1-0 | |
Richie Towell 16' | 2-0 | |
Johnny Kenny 28' | 3-0 | |
Neil Farrugia 48' | 4-0 | |
Markus Poom 53' | 5-0 |
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
22 October 2023 | 8:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Five Star Shamrock Rovers on route to Title
Shamrock Rovers inched increasingly closer to their fourth successive league title this evening, cruising past an off-colour Drogheda United side 5-0 in Tallaght.
Drogheda had built a reputation as a bogey side for Rovers this seasons-defined by their compact shape, clinical edge and unrelenting energy. None of those qualities were on display tonight as Rovers played past United with ease, taking the lead within minutes of kick-off.
The opener saw the hosts string together a neat succession of passes on the right flank before Neil Farrugia swung a cross into the box, the ball cleared but only to meet Trevor Clarke on the left. Clarke demonstrated impeccable technique to take his shot on the half-volley and guide it delicately past Andrew Wogan in the Drogheda net to make it 1-0.
Minutes later Drogheda were left far too exposed again, Markus Poom finding Rory Gaffney at the back-post, the forward heading across goal to find the on-rushing figure of Richie Towell who finished home from point-blank range.
The onslaught continued as Drogheda desperately struggled to play through the middle of the pitch, often resorting to long balls in hopes that Kyle Robinson could muster a semblance of a goal-scoring opportunity.
A loose ball in the box saw Drogheda fail to clear their lines, Johnny Kenny exploiting the haphazard defending to rifle a shot into the roof of the net-the Celtic loanee shattering a near six-month goal drought in the process.
The second half picked up as badly as it left off for Drogheda, the visitors acting as the creators of their own demise once again, a botched clearance only falling as far as the feet of Farrugia, the full-back firing home to make it four.
A bruising performance only got uglier for Drogheda as Gaffney picked the ball up on the left wing and floored Jarlath Jones with some quick twists and turns. The Tuam forward then darted into the box, neatly teeing up Poom for an open header that was comfortably converted.
The hosts sauntered home from that point on, Bradley’s side reduced to ten men for the last half hour as Clarke limped off with injury.
The win brings Shamrock Rovers six points clear at the top of the table, a win away against St. Patrick’s Athletic this Friday mathematically guaranteeing The Hoops the title.
Drogheda make the journey up to The Showgrounds on Saturday to face Sligo Rovers in what is realistically a dead rubber match for Kevin Doherty’s men-survival for the following season already guaranteed.
Timeline
18. Trevor Clarke | 7' | |
17. Richie Towell | 16' | |
24. Johnny Kenny | 28' | |
Gary O'Neill Darragh Nugent |
46' | |
Richie Towell Najemedine Razi |
46' | |
46' | Kyle Robinson Jarlath Jones |
|
46' | Luke Wade-Slater Aaron McNally |
|
46' | Jamie Egan Darragh Noone |
|
23. Neil Farrugia | 48' | |
19. Markus Poom | 53' | |
Daniel Cleary Sean Hoare |
60' | |
Rory Gaffney Simon Power |
60' | |
Markus Poom Liam Burt |
60' | |
85' | Warren Davis Callum Warren |
Past Meetings
Ground
Tallaght Stadium |
---|
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Full-time. Shamrock Rovers 5-0 Drogheda United.
Power charges into the box and smashes the ball home. Fourth official waves the goal off for a handball.
Farrugia crowned player of the match after a riveting attacking display.
Davis goes off for Warren.
As it stands Rovers go six points clear at the top of the league. A win against Pats on Friday will mathematically secure them the league, while a draw will most likely prolong the inevitable.
Razi nearly nets his first senior goal following some nice link-up with Kenny, Razi's ultimate shot tipped over the bar for a corner-kick.
Roves reduced to ten men as Clarke limps off with injury.
Farrugia nearly grabs his second-fizzing a shot from the right-side of the box that veers inches away from Wogan's left post.
Bradley uses up the rest of his subs. Power makes a rape appearance off the bench in place of Gaffney, while Burt and Hoare replace Cleary and Poom.
Goal! It's getting ugly for Drogheda now. Gaffney picks up the ball on the left wing and darts into box-flooring Jones in the process. The Tuam striker dinks a cross into the six-yard box and finds the on-rising figure of Poom who heads home.
Goal! Cleary sends the ball into the box from the right flank, his cross leading to a botched Drogheda clearance that falls only as far as the feet of Farrugia, the full-back smashing the ball into the bottom-right corner to make it four.
Second half gets back underway. Five subs introduced at the interval (2 for Rovers, 3 for Drogheda).
Half-time: Shamrock Rover 3-0 Drogheda United.
Lopes goes close to making it 4-hitting the post as Drogheda fail to recover from a set piece, Clearing firing the rebound into the side netting.
It's been an extremely off-colour performance from Drogheda so far, betraying their usual well-disciplined and compact shape as Rovers continue to move through the middle of the park with ease.
Kenny's goal was his first in a Rovers kit since April!
Goal! A scramble in the box sees Drogheda fail to clear their lines, Kenny catching the ball and turning to rifle a finish in the top left-corner. It marks the end of a long-goal drought for the Celtic loanee.
Gaffney flashes a cross in from the right wing that's collected by Wogan-the keeper nearly turning the ball into his own net as he backpedals following the save.
Towell nets again but is ruled offside by the fourth official.
Goal! It's two for Rovers. Poom is afforded too much space in the middle of the park as he lofts a cross into the box, finding Gaffney who heads across goal and into the path of the on-rushing Richie Towell, the midfielder finishing from point-blank range to make it 2 for Rovers!
Burke's suspension has seen Bradley adopt two strikers up front, with Rory Gaffney and Johnny Kenny lining up together.
Goal! Clarke puts Rovers in the lead! A quickly worked move down the right wing sees Farrugia sends the ball into the Rovers box, aiming for the head of Gaffney. The cross is cleared but falls to Clarke on the left-side of the box, who demonstrates great technique in curling the ball on the half-volley into the bottom right corner.
Drogheda get the action underway here in Tallaght!
Drogheda make a few changes from their most recent clash against Derry. The suspended Conor Keeley is replaced by Jamie Egan, while Luke Wade Slater fills the void left by an injured Darragh Markey.
Drogheda United have proved prickly opposition for Rovers this season, drawing twice in Weaver's Park before pulling off a shock 2-1 win in Tallaght in May. Speaking to club media about Drogheda, Bradley credited their cutting edge with their success this season: “Drogheda are very efficient in the final third of the pitch, they’ve shown that and we saw it throughout the season. Kevin Doherty has done a brilliant job and they have a really honest and hard-working group of players and they have good quality in the final third. So we know it’s a difficult game and we have to be ruthless when we get our opportunities against Drogheda.”
Stephen Bradley's side enter tonight's clash in tumultuous conditions, yet to play in a competitive fixture since their 1-0 win against Shelbourne over three weeks ago. Bradley took aim at the club's higher management after that match, saying “It’s hard enough to win, and it’s even harder to win when certain people are trying to stop you from winning,” in an interview with Off The Ball.
Evening all and welcome to tonight's match coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United. The game-scheduled for Friday and postponed due to weather conditions-bears the opportunity for Rovers to effectively wrap up the title, a win for The Hoops giving them a six point advantage at the top of the table with 3 games to go.