Drogheda United 0 - 1 Glentoran
Credit:
Irish Premier League side Glentoran progressed to the Final of the Setanta Sports Cup on Monday night, defeating Drogheda United by a goal to nil at United Park. Glentoran took the lead as early as the fourth minute, and held on resolutely, despite being reduced to nine men.
Full back Jason Hill had time and space on the left wing, and decided to take on Paul Keegan. Hill ghosted past Keegan and stuck a weak shot goalwards, that Drogheda keeper Jamie Ewings somehow managed to let roll past him. Where exactly stand in full back Shane Robinson was will be a question manager Paul Doolin was no doubt seeking the answer to at the break.
Just a minute later Glentoran could have been two up. David Scullion evaded the challenges of two defenders before cutting inside and hitting a left footed shot goal wards - but before Ewings had the chance to make up for his error, the shot was blocked by a covering defender.
Adam Hughes was presented with a fantastic chance to level things after ten minutes, but his close range effort from Faz Kuduzovics cross was well saved by Elliot Morris. Keegan then shot wide from twenty two yards.
Ewings continued to look extremely shaky in goals. He dropped a high free kick that should have been a routine catch, and then flapped at two corners in quick succession. At the other end, his opposite number one, Morris, made a fine save to deny Hughes again, after the Australian got on the end of a deflected shot inside the six yard box.
Glentoran were showing great skill in breaking quickly, and found particular joy in wide positions. Scullion pulled back a deep cross and Graham Gartland did extremely well to clear a Michael Halliday shot from the line. Scullion then had a shot of his own from inside the box get deflected narrowly wide. Gary Hamiliton was involved in the build up of both moves.
Early in the second half Drogheda were awarded a free kick for handball just a yard or two out side the box in a central position - but Kuduzovic's effort was high and wide. The Bosnian then wasted another opening, his attempted lob sailing far too high.
On the hour mark Cahill crossed for Zayed, but the strikers header lacked the power to trouble Elliot. Hamiliton was then overly ambitious with a free kick from all of thirty five yards, that even Ewings didn't have difficulty catching.
Elliot made another great save from a Gartland header after seventy minutes, the cross having been provided by the ever impressive Keegan.
With fifteen minutes remaining Keegan was given the chance to level matters from the spot. Referee Richie Winter blew up when Paul Leeman shoved Declan O'Brien over - an indiscretion for which Leeman was shown a straight red card. However, the Bohemians bound midfielder missed from twelve yards, hitting the crossbar with a powerful right footed drive.
The visitors found themselves down to nine men for the final two minutes after goalscorer Hill was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Shane Robinson, Shaun Maher, Graham Gartland, Ollie Cahill; Adam Hughes, Paul Keegan, Sami Ristila (Joe Kendrick 51), Declan O'Brien; Eamon Zayed, Fahrudin Kuduzovic.
Glentoran: Elliott Morris; Colin Nixon, Paul Leeman, Sean Ward, Jason Hill; Daryl Fordyce, Johnny Taylor, David Scullion (Philip Simpson 75), Grant Gardiner; Michael Halliday (Jamie McGovern 93), Gary Hamilton (Andrew Waterworth 88).
Referee: Richie Winter.
