Report: Shelbourne 0 - 2 Drogheda United

A first half Tony Grant strike, followed by a late Alan Murphy own goal sent Drogheda United into the next round of the league cup on a roasting day at Tolka Park today.

Both sides started cautiously with Richie Baker keeping Mark Rutherford in his own half for the opening ten minutes. Indeed from a move with Tony Grant, Baker won and took a corner on nine minutes, which was cleared off the line by Robbie Hedderman. From a free kick on seventeen minutes, Joe Kendrick’s cross was headed behind by Damien Brennan. Baker’s resulting corner fell at the feet of Jason Gavin at the back post however, unmarked, he couldn’t find the target as chances were few and far between.

The hosts were matching their Premier Division opponents without really threatening much up front as the bruising battle between Damien Brennan and Alan Byrne of Shels’ and Tony Grant and Ibrahima Iyane Thiam of Drogs’ promised to be decisive. At the other end, a debut for Michael Clarke at right back bore fruit as the man provided a very solid debut for the visitors.

James Chambers moved up front as Shels’ began pushing forward more after twenty minutes; however poor defending nearly cost them on twenty five minutes as Iyane Thiam casually carried the ball to the edge of Shels’ box without a tackle from either of Shels’ centre halves. Dually he unleashed a ferocious shot that flew just over.

Shels’ were forced into an early change as Max Cream replaced the injured Alan Byrne, forcing the side into changes throughout the line-up and these changes may have helped Drogs’ with their opener as Baker easily found Grant on the edge of the box who turned and squeezed a fine goal past the diving Dean Delany giving the reigning Eircom Premier Division champions a slender half time lead.

Drogs’ were appealing for a penalty just after the break after good work from Baker and Shane Barrett in Shels’ box saw Barrett go down amongst a crowd of red shirts however the ref waved the appeals away. Alan Mulcahy had been introduced at half time at the expense of McGlynn for Shels’ and the winger enjoyed plenty of ball on the right from the start of the half. His fine cross resulted in Gareth Whelan clearing the ball just wide on fifty minutes. The resulting corner found Cream at the back post but he couldn’t get his shot away under pressure from Jason Gavin.

Drogs’ were next to take shot as after Baker ran unopposed in Shels’ half, he found the run of Iyane-Thiam whose powerful effort was palmed wide. It was end-to-end stuff now as both sides found space in key areas. Cream was a handful up front for Shels’ and the movement and height of Iyane-Thiam were causing the Shels’ centre halves all sorts of problems.

On sixty one minutes Cream powered past his marker and found the newly introduced Stephen Doran on the penalty spot but his shot was blocked. At the other end Sami Ristilla found room to blast a 20-yard effort just wide.

With ten minutes left, Cream played Chambers in on goal but his scuffed effort was saved. Drog’s immediately broke and substitute Shane Robinson lifted the ball into an empty net after Delaney was left stranded. Alan Murphy was the unfortunate Red whose attempted clearance from under the bar crossed the line. Drogs’ could have added a third as their possession began to take centre stage in the final ten minutes, however good efforts from Shane Barrett from the head and the foot could not find the target.

Shels’ almost found a consolation but Mulcahy’s curling effort breezed just past Mikko Vilmunen’s far post in the closing stages. On a day when Shels’ were far from outclassed, they failed to take their chances as Drogheda made it to the next round of the cup by a score of 2-0.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy, Alan Byrne (Max Cream 32), Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; James Chambers, Mark O’Brien, David McGill (Stephen Doran 55), Peter McGlynn (Alan Mulcahy 46); Mark Rutherford, David Freeman.
Subs not used: John McGuinness, Dean Lawrence.

Drogheda United: Mikko Vilmunen; Michael Clarke, Jason Gavin, Gareth Whelan, Joe Kendrick; Richie Baker (Shane Robinson 57), Paul Keegan, Sami Ristilla, Shane Barrett; Ibrahima Iyane Thiam (Eamon Zayed 65), Tony Grant (David McAllister 85).
Subs not used: Jamie Ewings, Ollie Cahill.

Referee: Dave McKeon.

Attendance: 

Extratime Man of the Match: Jason Gavin (Drogheda United) - very solid at the back.