Clancy delighted to see his ten man team dig out a draw in Tallaght

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium 

Supporters certainly would have got their money’s worth if they were able to pay into Sunday afternoon’s game between Shamrock Rovers II and Drogheda United in Tallaght Stadium.

The behind-closed-door First Division match had four goals – one scored within 40 seconds of kick off – a red card and a screamer of an equaliser from Brandon Bermingham late on for ten man United.

“It was very entertaining game – maybe not for me and Aidan (Price) on the sideline,” joked Drogheda United boss Tim Clancy when he spoke to LMFM after the match.

“They started the game really well right from the kick off. We gave away a corner and then they scored within 40 seconds and that put us on the back foot and we never got going.

“We found ourselves 2-0 down from another set piece which was frustrating. Sparky (Mark Hughes) got sent off after 28 minutes. 

“Mark’s was a red card. He has taken a heavy touch and Liam Scales has read it. He tried to make up for it and he has lunged in.”

Clancy was quick to make a couple of changes – with the five substitution rule brought in for the season re-start allowing him more flexibility with his team.

“From that point on the energy levels and application was very good. I thought we were excellent after that. I brought on James Clarke and he was superb and gave us quality on the ball. 

“He takes it in tight areas and slips passes through and he nearly scored himself. Brandon Bermingham gave us a lot of energy on that side of the pitch. 

“To come away with a draw after being 2-0 down after 28 minutes away from home is a real positive. For the first goal we have worked on our wide men getting in behind and giving us some legs. 

“It is a great touch by Chris Lyons to Mark Doyle who makes a great run and fires it into the bottom corner. Brandon’s is a fantastic finish from 20 yards. He is capable of that. He is a match winner.”

The Hoops have yet to win a game this season – this draw was just their second point of the campaign but Clancy feels that Aidan Price’s young chargers will get better as the league progresses.

“They are very good footballers. They pass it around well and in really dangerous areas. We watched them here against Galway and they should have won that day. They only lost in the last minute against Cabo. They will get stronger as the season goes on.

“If their finishing had been more on song today or their final ball of a higher quality, they would have won the game by a number of goals.”

Thanks to Adrian Taffe of LMFM for supplying extratime.com with interview audio – you can hear the interview with Tim Clancy on this week’s extratime.com Sportcast.

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