Macdara Ferris reports from Weavers Park
Dylan Watts was the hero for the Hoops as his late strike kept his team still very much in the hunt for an historic five-in-a-row as they defeated the Boynesiders 1-0 in Drogheda.
This match was viewed as Shamrock Rovers’ hardest of their final three games and they just about managed the win thanks to a beaut of a late Watts strike six minutes from time.
It was a night when the top four all won with St. Pat’s ending Galway United’s title aspirations. We now go into the final two games with a mere four points separating those top four sides with Shels two clear of both Derry City and the Hoops, with Stephen Kenny’s Saints side only a further two points behind.
It looked like Drogheda had done enough to stifle the Hoops and move themselves to within one win of Bohemians just above them in the table only for the FAI Cup finalists to be undone late on. The home fans' only solace was that Dundalk’s defeat at home to Derry relegated their Lilywhite rivals.
All evening off the pitch the scores from the other games around the grounds were being bandied about by supporters. ‘Shels are losing, Pat’s are winning, what about Dundalk?’
In what has turned into a titanic tussle at both ends of the table, it was no surprise that it was a close affair on the tight Weavers Park pitch between the Hoops who started in third against ninth placed Drogheda United.
It was the Boynesiders who should probably have held the half-time lead after Douglas James-Taylor blasted over the bar from close range although the Hoops came oh-so-close to scoring with Marc McNulty hitting the butt of the Drogs post.
Kevin Doherty made the one switch from his team's scoreless stalemate in Waterford bringing in Shane Farrell who was centrally involved in the game.
Stephen Bradley, who watched the game from the stands as his suspension continued, started with McNulty up top as Johnny Kenny, who played for the Ireland under-21s twice during the last week, was named on the bench.
Farrell and Jack Byrne seemed to take turns with the corner kicks from either end and it was Byrne’s delivery that caused the most danger. Lee Grace headed wide inside four minute while Luke Dennison got down well to save Watts' shot when he rattled a clearance from a corner goalwards.
The biggest cheer of the first half probably came from the home fans when they heard that Louth rivals Dundalk were a goal down at home to Derry with relegation now staring the Lilywhites in the face.
In the 19th minute Farrell’s free kick drew a fine save from Pohls and the German netminder later stood up well to James-Taylor to save. However, the ball ran free to the Englishman and with the goal at his mercy and only Dan Cleary back on the line he inexplicably shot over the bar.
Another Byrne corner saw Cleary force Dennison into another save before an almighty scramble in the penalty area. Four minutes from the break, McNutly turned on a Gary O’Neill pass and his effort flicked the Drogheda post with the teams trooping off at the half-time whistle all square.
The Hoops piled on the early pressure with Dennison drawn into the action palming away an effort from under his own crossbar and immediately following up to save Watts as he ran onto the rebound.
Just after the hour mark McMulty had the ball in the net but the offside flag was already up in the air. That was the Scottish striker’s last involvement as the Hoops brought on both Kenny and Graham Burke at that point with Burke going in the book just a minute after his introduction.
There was a let off for Rovers when Grace’s clearance hit Lopes only for it to just bounce past the post as the nervous tension continued to rise and rise.
With time running out Watts picked up a Danny Mandriou pass, stepped right and unleashed an unstoppable shot with his right foot into the top corner of the Drogs goal and send the pocket of visiting Hoops supporters into high heaven.
With Rovers playing in Belfast in the Conference League on Thursday they aren't back in league action until Sunday when they take on the now relegated Dundalk.
Shels and Derry will both play Friday and will get the chance to move further ahead of the Hoops. No doubt there will be one or two more twists to come in this epic – now four way – title race.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; James Bolger, David Webster, Andrew Quinn, Luke Heeney; Elicha Ahui, Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell; Darragh Markey (Warren Davis 77); Douglas Taylor, Adam Foley (Killian Cailloce 84)
Subs not used: Andrew Wogan, Aaron McNally, Gary Deegan, Jack Keaney, Matthew O’Brien, Bridel Bosakani, Aaron Harper Bailey.
Booked: David Webster (39), Shane Farrell (73), Elicha Ahui (87)
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pöhls; Lee Grace, Pico Lopes, Daniel Cleary; Darragh Burns (Joshua Honohan 87), Gary O'Neill (Graham Burke 63), Dylan Watts (Darragh Nugent 87), Neil Farrugia; Jack Byrne (Aaron McEneff 71), Marc McNulty (Johnny Kenny 63), Danny Mandroiu.
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Seán Kavanagh, Markus Poom, Conan Noonan.
Booked: Jack Byrne (17), Graham Burke (64).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.
Attendance: 2,357
extratime.com Player of the Match: Dylan Watts (Shamrock Rovers)
