- Ruairi Devlin
- Mon, Apr 25 2016
Séan Cronin's first goal of the season was one to remember as Shels rescued a late point at Tolka Park against a fortuitous Drogheda team.
Shelbourne got off to the better start with early pressure being put on the Drogheda defence, leading to a few nervy moments.
The first chance of the match fell to Brandon McCann in the 16th minute, when the ball found it’s way to the striker in the box but his right footed shot was blocked by Ben Mooney and was collected comfortably by the Drogheda keeper Mark Devlin.
Drogheda's first opening fell to winger Gavin Taylor just inside the box, after Paddy Conway found a way through the Shelbourne defence, but Taylor's first time shot was a tame effort.
Striker Paddy Conway caused havoc once again in the Shelbourne rearguard, when he took the ball off Shels Captain Arran Molloy and put the ball past the Shelbourne keeper Kelan Gaffney, but Matthew McMenamin got back to clear ball off the line.
The Shelbourne manager Stephen Finn made a wise tactical decision, by instructing Wingers Josh Scully and Callum Brummell to swap wings on the half hour. Five minutes later, Shels centre foward Brandon McCann played an overlapping ball to Callum Brummell down the left, who drove the ball into box and into the back of the net after taking a deflection off Drogheda centre half Luke McNally.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half, Drogheda started to take control of the game and on the 66th minute, Paddy Conway overhit a cross from the left into the box and it looped over Shels keeper Kelan Gaffney into the right hand side of the goal. Drogheda kept pressing and Kyle Molloy forced the Shelbourne keeper to make a good save after a long range effort. Drogheda wasted another chance, when midfielder Jamos Carroll won the ball in the middle of the park and had three options in front of him but he over hit his pass.
Drogheda's 2nd goal came in the 85th minute, when Kyle Molloy broke away and after some good build up play between the Drogheda players, a cross went in and Arran Molloy tried to clear but it deflected off Drogheda striker Paddy Conway past the Shels keeper.
Shelbourne showed great character by not giving up and won a free kick on the edge of the D in the 91st minute. Up stepped Séan Cronin who Curled it around the wall and into the bottom right corner leaving the goalkeeper stranded.
The results does not suit either team, with Drogheda staying in 10th and Shelbourne 4th for the time being in the Airtricity U17 Northern Elite Division.
Shelbourne: Kelan Gaffney (GK), Nathan Doyle, Leo Tang (Jonathan Anene), Arran Molloy (C), Matthew McMenamin, Séan Cronin, Callum Brummell, Jordan Fox (Kaelyn Thompson), Brandon McCann, Ben O 'Dowd (Leon Kennedy), Josh Scully (Jordan Carroll), Subs: Ross Strong:
Drogheda United: Mark Devlin (GK), Cian O Luanaigh Power, Ben Mooney, Luke McNally, Dylan Rice, Kyle Mooney (Dylan Scully), Eoin Broughan, James Carroll, Conor Frayne (Tom Adeyinka), Paddy Conway, Gavin Taylor (Princewell Esanbor), Subs: Stephen Doran, Karl Breen, Scott Byrne, Gavin Coughlan:
