League Report: Shelbourne 0 - 0 Drogheda United

The only game without a goal on the opening night of the 2023 SSE Airtricity League was played out at Tolka Park on Friday night when Shelbourne and Drogheda shared the points in a 0-0 draw.

It was, nevertheless, an entertaining and at times highly charged game, with plenty of goalmouth incidents and lots of full-blooded challenges which saw referee Paul McLaughlin issue seven yellow cards during the course of the game.

Drogheda were quicker out of the blocks and they dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and could have taken an early lead in the 19^th minute. On loan striker Freddy Draper availed of a rare mistake in the Shelbourne defence when he was one on one with goalkeeper Conor Kearns but his attempted lob over the keeper was a fraction too high and it skimped the cross bar and went wide.

That scare seem to shake the home side into action and within a few minutes they had an even better opportunity to find the net.

Sean Boyd broke free from the half way line and when faced with goalkeeper Colin McCabe he elected to pass to Matty Smyth on his left but the ex-Derry City player inexplicably put it wide when an open goal in front of him. Smyth had time to both take a touch and also use his left foot but he did neither and what turned out to be the best chance of the game was spurned.

Shels then dominated the game up to half time and had a number of other half chances to take a lead into the break. There was one for Boyd again in the 28^th  minute  when his shot hit the post and  another for Shane Farrell in the 44^th minute when his shot from the right hand side of the box was dragged too far left and skimmed the left hand post.

There was no lack of effort from either side in the second half with Damian Duff’s side having the majority of possession but meeting great resistance from the home defence for whom new signings Conor Keeley (Ballymena Utd) and Elicha Ahiu (on loan from Lincoln City) were excellent.

Shelbourne had another half chance in the 69^th minute when both Paddy Barrett and Jack Moylan had headers off the bar following a corner kick but when Boyd went off injured in the 81^st minute it looked increasingly unlikely that they would breach the resolute Drogheda rear-guard.

They did apply a lot of pressure, including during the six minutes of added time, but ultimately, they were not sufficiently clinical in front of goal, paid the price for it and had to settle for a share of the points.

Shelbourne:  Conor Kearns; Paddy Barrett, Luke Byrne, Gavin Molloy; Shane Farrell, JJLunney, Mark Coyle (Cameron Ledwidge, 65), Tyreke Wilson (JR Wilson, 77); Jack Moylan (Evan Caffrey, 83), Matty Smith (Kian Leavy, 77); Sean Boyd (Kyle Robinson, 83).

Subs not used: Scott van der Sluis (GK); Luke Brown, Brian McManus, Andrew Quinn

Booked: Luke Byrne (3), Tyreke Wilson (13), Shane Farrell (42), Mark Coyle (58)

Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui, Ben Curtis, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan (Darragh Noone, 88); Adam Foley, Darragh Markey (Dylan Grimes, 78), Dayle Rooney; Freddy Draper.

Subs not used: Fiachra Pagel (GK); Emmanuel Adegboyega, Sean Brennan, Warren Davis, Luke Heeney, Jarlath Jones, Michael Leddy.

Booked: Conor Keeley (44), Adam Foley (62), Elicha Ahiu (68).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Conor Keeley (Drogheda Utd)