

Fabrice Hartmann 66' | ||
Robbie Burton 70' | ||
Nando Pijnaker 72' | ||
85' Darragh Noone | ||
Johan Brannefalk 87' |
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
28 October 2023 | 6:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Sligo Rovers mathematically secured their top-flight status for next season thanks to an uneventful scoreless draw against Drogheda United at the Showgrounds this evening. The Bit ‘O Red moved onto 37 points, seven clear of Cork City who have two games left to play, condemning the Rebelmen to a playoff against either Waterford or Cobh Ramblers. The draw means that Drogheda United will finish ahead of Sligo Rovers in seventh and maintain their unbeaten status against John Russell’s men this season. Sligo started the brighter of the two sides and broke the Drogheda defensive line through the clever runs of Frank Liivak from midfield, but each time Conor Keeley was up to the task and defended resolutely. Fabrice Hartmann looked like he had taken the lead after Reece Hutchinson dribbled away from three players before setting up the German’s volley from 12 yards out, but Andrew Wogan dived across to his right to keep his clean sheet intact with an acrobatic save. Drogheda began to make inroads in the game with some tidy play in and around the Sligo penalty area before the game was halted due to pyrotechnics being thrown on the pitch. Referee Alan Patchell halted proceedings due to poor visibility caused by the smoke from the flare that was thrown onto the pitch, and with the game about to be restarted after the smoke dissipated, fireworks were let off in the stands. Patchell brought the players off the pitch for about 15 minutes before the game was able to resume yet again, warning those responsible that one more incident regarding flares would result in the game being abandoned. However, aside from Hartmann’s volley and the pyrotechnics thrown onto the pitch, there were little to no fireworks in the first half with play being broken up by poor passes and fouls in midfield. Near the end of the first half, Drogheda created their best chance of the game when Evan Weir sprayed the ball out to Dayle Rooney who faked to shoot with his left before firing with his right just inside the box. Richard Brush got his hands up quickly to touch the ball onto the bar, keeping the game scoreless heading into halftime. Russell made some changes at half time and before the hour mark to try to instil some life in the game for Sligo, but the most impactful substitute in the game was Drogheda’s Warren Davis, who looked impressive yet again for the Boynesiders hassling defenders and winning free-kicks. The second half was even less eventful than the first, as the final game at the Showgrounds this season meandered to its scoreless conclusion. An end of season game that wasn’t quite a dead-rubber, but certainly felt like one.Stalemate at the Showgrounds See Sligo Rovers Safe
Timeline
Frank Liivak Will Fitzgerald |
46' | |
53' | Darragh Markey Warren Davis |
|
Niall Morahan Pedro Martelo |
59' | |
Karl O'Sullivan Robbie Burton |
59' | |
59' | Kyle Robinson Darragh Noone |
|
11. Fabrice Hartmann | 66' | |
John Mahon Nando Pijnaker |
68' | |
Robbie Burton | 70' | |
28. Nando Pijnaker | 72' | |
Kailin Barlow David Cawley |
80' | |
85' | 28. Darragh Noone | |
Johan Brannefalk | 87' |
Past Meetings
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: Sligo Rovers 0-0 Drogheda United
Tidy play from Sligo in and around the Drogheda penalty area almost falls for Martelo but the ball is scrambled clear by the away side. Three minutes of added time will be played at the Showgrounds.
Brannefalk tackles O\'Brien late on the right wing and receives a yellow. Kevin Doherty is irate about the tackle and receives a booking for his protestations.
Noone receives Drogheda's first yellow of the game lunge on Bolger.
Davis wins a free kick just outside the Sligo box.
Cawley comes on replacing Barlow.
Rooney takes a rocket of a shot from outside the box that flies just wide of the Sligo goal.
Davis puts Pijnaker under serious pressure and leads to the New Zealander picking the third yellow card of the game.
Burton picks up his side's second yellow of the game.
Pijnaker comes on in place of Mahon.
Hartmann receives the first yellow card of the game for a late tackle out on the right wing.
Mahon puts himself in trouble with some lax play, allowing Foley to nip in a steal the ball. Unfortunately for the away side, nothing comes of this rare attacking opportunity.
Burton and Martelo come on for Morahan and O\'Sullivan for the home team. Noone replaces Robinson for Drogheda.
Hutchinson strikes left-footed against Heeney but gets a second bite of the cherry and curls an effort inches away from the top corner with his right.
Markey, who was carrying a knock heading into the game in Sligo, is being replaced by Davis
Robinson has a chance to counter but his touch allows Mahon to get back before the Drogheda number 9 passed the ball to the opposition.
O'Brien fires a ball into the box which deflects off Buckley towards goal. Luckily for Sligo, it goes straight into the hands of Brush.
Nervy start from Brush as he slices a clearance out for a corner kick.
Drogheda tip off for the second half.
Fitzgerald comes on in place of Liivak at half time.
HALF TIME: Sligo Rovers 0-0 Drogheda United
Hartmann uses his quick feet after a feed from Brannefalk and earns a corner from a tight-angled shot at Wogan.
There will be at least three minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.
Bolger finishes off a swift Sligo break with a long-ranged effort, but his strike flies well over the bar.
Mahon is sloppy again and loses the ball in his own half. Weir sprays the ball out to Rooney who fakes to shoot with his left before firing with his right, but Brush reacts quickly to touch the ball onto the bar.
Mahon fails to control a dropping ball and it is picked up by Foley. A neat one-two between Robinson and Foley leads to a tame effort by Foley.
This game is certainly lacking fireworks in a footballing sense - Hartmann's volley has been the only real chance of note in this game.
Drogheda get out on the break through Robinson who shoots from a tight angle into the hands of Brush.
After a long break, the players are back out on the pitch and the game resumes.
The players have been called off the pitch and a notice from the tannoy is telling the people in the ground that the game has been suspended for the time being.
The game has been stopped due to a flare being thrown on the pitch.
Drogheda get up the field for the first time this game but on several occasions failed to get a shot on target.
Hutchinson gets down the left and crosses for Hartmann who volleys powerfully from 12 yards out, but Wogan dives to his right to make a stunning save, collecting the ball at the second time of asking. An excellent save from the Ireland u19 international.
Brannefalk whips a corner in and Wogan drops the ball into a crowd of players but Keeley yet again clears the ball.
Liivak beats the offside trap and looks to cause danger for the Boynesiders, but again the Estonian is thwarted by the challenge of Keeley.
Brannefalk finds Hartmann on the edge of the box who slides Liivak through, but the tackle of Keeley diverts the ball out for a corner.
Barlow tips off for Sligo as the game gets underway.