League Report: Shamrock Rovers 4 - 0 Drogheda United

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers cruised to their biggest win of the season with a 4-0 victory over Drogheda United on Monday night to move into second place and to within two points of Shelbourne at the top of the table. 

Goals from Johnny Kenny and Aaron Greene both late in the first half, and Darragh Burns and Josh Honohan after the break meant Rovers got a four point return from their Friday-Monday double header – to go with the four they got last week away to Derry and Shels.

The Hoops certainly upped the pace from the more pedestrian affair in the draw against Galway United last Friday. This time around they added more penetration to their play but it was still scoreless when the scoreboard ticked to 45 minutes.

However by the time the half-time whistle went the Hoops were two goals up thanks to fine finishes from Kenny and Greene.

Stephen Bradley made three changes to the team from Friday while Kevin Doherty made just the one. The Hoops were still struggling with the extensive injury list with Rory Gaffney not part of the match day squad.

They weren’t helped by Richie Towell tweaking his hamstring after a half an hour requiring him to withdraw as Conan Noonan came on in his place.

Leon Pohls was pretty much a spectator for the first half as, bar an early Darragh Markey corner, his involvement was all with his feet as Rovers built up the play from the back.

Inside six minutes the Hoops had hit the post with Greene’s effort coming back out to Kenny via a touch from Jethren Barr only for the Sligoman to miss.

The keeper smothered another effort from Kenny mid-way through the half. Barr’s third save was the best as his right boot took away Darragh Burns' close range shot after a lovely one-two between Burns and Noonan.

Leading the line in Gaffney’s absence, Kenny a couple of times took the wrong option but he would get his reward late in the half. It was a repeat of their goal from Friday as Watts drilled a corner in, their fifth of the half, which Kenny powered home by beating Luke Heeney to the centre.

Less than 90 seconds later and Rovers had doubled their lead. Oisin Gallagher’s mistake playing a ball across midfield was pounced on by Burns. He sent a curling pass in between the Boynesiders’ defence for the on rushing Greene and he made no mistake beating Barr for his seventh of the season.

The Hoops were three to the good on 53 minutes. Greene ran clear down the left. He played the ball across to Kenny who fed Burns wide right. The winger cut in by Conor Kane and rifled home into the roof of the net for his fourth of the season.

Two more headers almost breached the Boynesiders’ defence around the hour mark. Honohan’s header was pushed back out by Barr and when Kenny’s effort was goalbound only a Barr touch saved the day to take it onto the crossbar.

Kevin Doherty made a couple of double substitutions as the fight went out of the game and it only got worse for the men from Louth. Keaney received his marching orders for what Rob Hennessy felt was a professional foul on Kenny as he raced in on goal on 71 minutes but there seemed to be minimal if any contact between the players.

Three minutes later the Hoops had their fourth goal. With Noonan on set piece duty after Watts was withdrawn, his set piece from the right was powerfully headed home by Honohan. 

The win moves Rovers’ unbeaten record at home in the league to 15 matches with 12 wins and three draws since their last loss (which was to Drogheda United in May last year).

"Bring on the Bohs" was the chant from the home supporters at the final whistle and the Hoops will travel to Dalymount Park on Friday with confidence as they face into a third week of double-headers with a game back here in Tallaght against Waterford on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Shamrock Rovers: Léon Pöhls; Daniel Cleary (John O'Sullivan 75), Pico Lopes, Joshua Honohan; Darragh Burns (Maxim Kovalevskis 68), Richard Towell (Conan Noonan 32), Dylan Watts (Cory O'Sullivan 68), Trevor Clarke (Cian Barrett 68); Aaron Greene, Johnny Kenny, Darragh Nugent.
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Toms Leitis, Seán Kavanagh, Matthew Britton.
Booked: None.

Drogheda United: Jethren Barr; Luke Heeney (David Webster 68), Hayden Cann, Jack Keaney, Conor Kane; Gary Deegan, Oisin Gallagher (Killian Cailloce 60); Aaron McNally (Adam Foley 54), Darragh Markey, Warren Davis (Zishim Bawa 54); Frantz Pierrot (Ryan Brennan 60).
Subs not used: Andrew Wogan, Andrew Quinn, Emre Topcu, Matthew O’Brien.
Booked: None.
Sent off: Jack Keaney (71)

Referee: Rob Hennessy 
Attendance: 3,847
extratime.com Player of the Match: Darragh Burns (Shamrock Rovers)