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Eamon Zayed scored the Hoops second goal. Donall Farmer/INPHO
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Zayed the inspiration as Shamrock Rovers cling on to beat Drogheda

The former Drogs striker set up The Hoops’ first goal and scored the second.

Drogheda United 2-3 Shamrock Rovers

DROGHEDA UNITED MUST be sick of the sight of Shamrock Rovers. It is six straight wins for Rovers over the Louth men in all competitions and the latest, this 3-2 away win lifts them to within a point of the SSE Airtricity League summit. For Drogheda, a third home defeat in a row ends a fairly miserable April.

Robbie Horgan recalled his two top goalscorers after Declan O’Brien and Gary O’Neill started Monday’s defeat to Pats on the bench while Rovers lined out with a formidable midfield diamond consisting of Shane Robinson, Stephen McPhail, Gary McCabe and Ronan Finn.

Against a rejigged Drogheda selection, they dominated early on. First rookie left-back Sean Heaney pulled a shot just wide of the post before the away side broke through.

The ease with which Eamon Zayed layed the ball off for Finn and the subsequent space the midfielder had to set himself and shoot past David Ryan for the opener will have undoubtedly angered Horgan. It proved just a lapse as Rovers were not afforded that space again in the first half. Drogheda injected some intensity, and pace too, into their game.

O’Neill missed a chance when he rose to meet Mick Daly’s cross but could only head harmlessly over. After a long punt forward on 24 minutes, O’Neill turned Conor Kenna. The defender, sent off against Dundalk seven days ago, upended the striker and Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot.

After missing a penalty last week in Cork, unlike Kenna, Gavin Brennan found redemption this time around. His kick rather fortuitously went in, via the post. Brennan renewed acquaintances with the woodwork when he saw his header from a Cathal Brady cross come off the top of the crossbar shortly afterwards.

Six minutes into the second half, Rovers retook the lead. Ciaran Kilduff found Simon Madden on the right. The full back’s cross was headed past Ryan by Eamon Zayed — a title winner in the past with Drogheda – for just his second of the season.

Minutes later, Rovers extended their lead. A quick breakaway after a Drogheda attack broke down ended when Madden’s pass was missed by Zayed but met by Kilduff whose shot tricked past Ryan into the far corner.

Alan McNally came closest to getting the home side back into the game when he then saw a late header come off the bar before sub Philly Hughes worked space and shot past Barry Murphy in the 86th minute for 2-3. Hope for Drogheda, but it did not spring eternal.

DROGHEDA UNITED: David Ryan, Michael Daly, Shane Grimes, Paul Andrews, Alan McNally, Cathal Brady (Carl Walshe, 74), Gary O’Neill, Gavin Brennan [C], Ciaran McGuigan, Stephen Maher (Paul Crowley, 81), Declan O’Brien (Philly Hughes, 74).

Substitutes: Dylan Connolly, Paul Crowley, Gavan Holohan, Philly Hughes, Carl Walshe, Sean O’Connor, Daire Doyle.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Barry Murphy, Simon Madden, Conor Kenna (Robert Cornwall, 74), Jason McGuinness, Sean Heaney (Luke Byrne, 46), Shane Robinson, Ronan Finn, Stephen McPhail, Gary McCabe (Kieran Marty Waters, 67), Eamon Zayed, Ciaran Kilduff.

Substitutes: Craig Hyland, Luke Byrne, Robert Cornwall, Ryan Brennan, Robert Bayly, Kieran Waters, Karl Sheppard.

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