- Alan Finn
- Mon, Apr 07 2014
Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United shared the spoils in The Showgrounds on Monday night, playing out a 1-1 draw.
Alan Keane and Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien scored the goals, but the result may be overshadowed by a potentially serious injury suffered by Drogs’ Austin McCann late in the second-half.
The Bit O’Red got off to a dream start when Alan Keane latched onto a squared ball from Alan Keane to give his side the lead after just 42 seconds.
Paul O’Conor could have doubled the lead just minutes later when came sliding into the box in an attempt to reach a ball from Sean Maguire, but the midfielder just couldn’t reach it in time.
Maguire was the provider again after nine minutes when he set up John Russell who first time shot failed to trouble Dave Ryan.
Against the run of play, Drogs equalised through a swift counter-attack when Carl Walshe sent Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien through on goal to find the back of the net with an angled shot beyond the reach of Gary Rogers.
Rovers had two decent chances early in the first half, Evan McMillan first getting on the end of a corner and seeing a header blocked off the line which was quickly followed by Maguire shooting over.
Greene caused some concern for Ryan with an in-swinging free-kick from the right which the goalkeeper had to parry wide.
Russell should have put the home side 2-1 up when he connected with a Ross Gaynor cross in the 74th minute, but he could only hit the crossbar from close range.
Eric Odhiambo had the ball in the back of the net in the dying minutes, but referee Padraigh Sutton disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Jeff Henderson, Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor; Joseph Ndo, Paul O'Conor (David Cawley 75), John Russell, Kieran Djilali, Aaron Greene; Sean Maguire (Eric Odhiambo 68).
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Jake Dykes, Kalen Spillane, Danny Ledwith, Jordan Loftus.
Drogheda United: David Ryan; Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan, Shane Grimes; Gavan Holohan (Austin McCann 66 (Daire Doyle 83)), Eric Foley (Stephen Maher 66), Gavin Brennan, Carl Walshe; Declan O'Brien, Gary O'Neill.
Subs not used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Andrews, Cathal Brady, Philly Hughes.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
Attendance: 1,887.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aaron Greene (Sligo Rovers).
