IF A WEEK is a long time in politics, a month is a virtual lifetime in football.
Exactly four weeks to the day that Pico Lopes went toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup round of 32 clash in Miami, he was shown his marching orders in injury time in Drogheda.
The home fans would have enjoyed their point regardless, but the sight of Lopes walking to the dressing rooms after receiving red from Aaron O’Dowd tickled them for sure.
The man watched by hundreds of millions of fans around the world just a few weeks ago, now sent off in front of 2,289 in Drogheda. He can have few complaints about it, his challenge on Shane Farrell was late, high and dangerous.
Rovers’ Roberto Lopes fouls Drogheda’s Shane Farrell. Will Morgan / INPHO
Will Morgan / INPHO / INPHO
It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, this one had scoreless draw written all over it at half-time, as those in attendance stewed over a game severely lacking in quality.
There was a time in the not so distant past that Rovers went five Premier Division games without a victory against Drogheda, the Louth men laying credible claim to the title of the Hoops’ bogey team.
Nowadays, despite Drogheda’s upward curve in recent seasons, it is an altogether different story. Stephen Bradley’s team arrived unbeaten against their hosts in over three years, a run stretching 13 matches in league and cup.
That is 14 now, but as far as positives go, they are clutching at straws there. Rovers – just three days after their Champions League exit – were not at their best at Sullivan & Lambe Park, far from it.
Bradley made six changes from the side knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, including handing a debut to Will Fitzgerald.
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Drogheda goalkeeper Luke Dennison and Edwin Agbaje with Michael Noonan of Rovers. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Another new arrival in the window, Jonathan Afolabi, was kept in reserve again as Bradley handed starts to teenagers Michael Noonan and Naj Zazi. Luke O’Regan, 21, was handed a first Rovers start too since his arrival from UCD.
The Drogs were more settled after an encouraging run of two wins and a draw in their last three outings. Alfie Bates replaced Brandon Kavanagh.
The first half was largely a non-event. If only for John O’Sullivan hitting the post when he should have buried a shot past Luke Dennison, nothing of note would have happened at all.
Matt Healy started the move, lifting a ball into the area for Aaron Greene. The ball bounced kindly for the striker, coming off the underside of his arm, before he squared it towards O’Sullivan. The Hoops midfielder’s sidefoot shot hit the foot of the post.
Bradley was decisive at half-time, replacing Aaron Greene with new arrival Jonathan Afolabi. On his return to the League of Ireland after two forgettable years in Belgium and the Netherlands, he was anonymous in his 45 minutes on the field.
The game was better, at least, after the restart. Lopes met a Jack Byrne corner with a near post header that dropped just beyond the far upright. The tempo of the game had certainly picked up after the break, there was more urgency in Rovers game for sure.
Shamrock Rovers players after the game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Drogheda had a chance too. Thomas Oluwa jinked past a number of Hoops defenders but the under-worked Ed McGinty was out quickly to smother.
Fitzgerald was next to go close. His diagonal run was picked out but he in turn couldn’t find the net with a tame shot on goal. He went close again before the end – as did Drogheda through sub Keegan Ancelin – but neither side could find a winner and Lopes faced an embarrassing exit on his return to league action.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbaje, James Bolger, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Ryan Brennan (Brandon Kavanagh, 80), Alfie Bates (Jago Godden 59), Shane Farrell; Jason Bucknor (Warren Davis, 80), Thomas Oluwa; Mark Doyle (Keegan Ancelin, 63).
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Tunmise Sobowale, Roberto Lopes, Enda Stevens (Lee Grace, 82); Luke O’Regan, 68), Matt Healy, John O’Sullivan (Jack Byrne, 68), Will Fitzgerald; Naj Razi, Aaron Greene (Jonathan Afolabi, 46); Michael Noonan (Ben Mahon, 82).
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Pico Lopes sent off as Shamrock Rovers held to draw by Drogheda
Drogheda United 0
Shamrock Rovers 0
Barry Landy reports from Weavers Park
IF A WEEK is a long time in politics, a month is a virtual lifetime in football.
Exactly four weeks to the day that Pico Lopes went toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup round of 32 clash in Miami, he was shown his marching orders in injury time in Drogheda.
The home fans would have enjoyed their point regardless, but the sight of Lopes walking to the dressing rooms after receiving red from Aaron O’Dowd tickled them for sure.
The man watched by hundreds of millions of fans around the world just a few weeks ago, now sent off in front of 2,289 in Drogheda. He can have few complaints about it, his challenge on Shane Farrell was late, high and dangerous.
It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, this one had scoreless draw written all over it at half-time, as those in attendance stewed over a game severely lacking in quality.
There was a time in the not so distant past that Rovers went five Premier Division games without a victory against Drogheda, the Louth men laying credible claim to the title of the Hoops’ bogey team.
Nowadays, despite Drogheda’s upward curve in recent seasons, it is an altogether different story. Stephen Bradley’s team arrived unbeaten against their hosts in over three years, a run stretching 13 matches in league and cup.
That is 14 now, but as far as positives go, they are clutching at straws there. Rovers – just three days after their Champions League exit – were not at their best at Sullivan & Lambe Park, far from it.
Bradley made six changes from the side knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, including handing a debut to Will Fitzgerald.
Another new arrival in the window, Jonathan Afolabi, was kept in reserve again as Bradley handed starts to teenagers Michael Noonan and Naj Zazi. Luke O’Regan, 21, was handed a first Rovers start too since his arrival from UCD.
The Drogs were more settled after an encouraging run of two wins and a draw in their last three outings. Alfie Bates replaced Brandon Kavanagh.
The first half was largely a non-event. If only for John O’Sullivan hitting the post when he should have buried a shot past Luke Dennison, nothing of note would have happened at all.
Matt Healy started the move, lifting a ball into the area for Aaron Greene. The ball bounced kindly for the striker, coming off the underside of his arm, before he squared it towards O’Sullivan. The Hoops midfielder’s sidefoot shot hit the foot of the post.
Bradley was decisive at half-time, replacing Aaron Greene with new arrival Jonathan Afolabi. On his return to the League of Ireland after two forgettable years in Belgium and the Netherlands, he was anonymous in his 45 minutes on the field.
The game was better, at least, after the restart. Lopes met a Jack Byrne corner with a near post header that dropped just beyond the far upright. The tempo of the game had certainly picked up after the break, there was more urgency in Rovers game for sure.
Drogheda had a chance too. Thomas Oluwa jinked past a number of Hoops defenders but the under-worked Ed McGinty was out quickly to smother.
Fitzgerald was next to go close. His diagonal run was picked out but he in turn couldn’t find the net with a tame shot on goal. He went close again before the end – as did Drogheda through sub Keegan Ancelin – but neither side could find a winner and Lopes faced an embarrassing exit on his return to league action.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbaje, James Bolger, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Ryan Brennan (Brandon Kavanagh, 80), Alfie Bates (Jago Godden 59), Shane Farrell; Jason Bucknor (Warren Davis, 80), Thomas Oluwa; Mark Doyle (Keegan Ancelin, 63).
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Tunmise Sobowale, Roberto Lopes, Enda Stevens (Lee Grace, 82); Luke O’Regan, 68), Matt Healy, John O’Sullivan (Jack Byrne, 68), Will Fitzgerald; Naj Razi, Aaron Greene (Jonathan Afolabi, 46); Michael Noonan (Ben Mahon, 82).
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Drogheda United League of Ireland LOI Premier Division Shamrock Rovers