Shamrock Rovers 1
Drogheda United 1
Paul Buttner reports from Tallaght Stadium
DOUGLAS JAMES-TAYLOR scored a terrific second half equaliser as bottom-of-the-table Drogheda United showed admirable resolve to come from behind to frustrate Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
The Walsall loanee’s fourth goal in five games since joining last month edges Drogheda, unbeaten now in four games in all competitions, to within two points of Louth neighbours Dundalk in the battle to avoid the automatic relegation place.
Conversely, the result was very much a missed opportunity by the champions following leaders Shelbourne’s defeat at Sligo Rovers and Derry City also dropping points this weekend.
Stephen Bradley’s side thus drop to fifth place in the table, 10 points behind Shelbourne, after a result and performance they certainly wouldn’t have wanted ahead of their big Europa League third round, second leg tie with Slovenians Celje on Thursday.
Unchanged from their last three games Drogheda gave Rovers a fright as early as 50 seconds.
An attack down the right saw Shane Farrell pick out James-Taylor who headed over when he ought to have hit the target.
With six changes from their 1-0 defeat in Europe last Thursday, Rovers did just that to take the lead with their first significant foray forward on six minutes.
Drogheda defender James Bolger miskicked under pressure from Darragh Burns who had skipped through onto Gary O’Neill’s ball down the line.
Burns, whose last goal was against Drogheda at the end of April, was composure personified as he took a controlling touch to calmly side-foot past Luke Dennison for his fifth league goal of the season.
Rovers, who had beaten Drogheda 4-0 and 2-0 in their earlier meetings this season, then enjoyed plenty of the ball for good spells as they looked to extend that lead.
That sustained possession saw Graham Burke shoot wide before they carved Drogheda open on 25 minutes with an intricate passing move.
Jack Byrne, Aaron Greene and Markus Poom linked well to set up Burke whose drive was straight at Dennison.
Farrell’s assured right foot was proving a threat at the other end, though, his drive from long range fumbled round a post by Leon Pohls.
From the visitors’ corner Rovers stretched Drogheda on the counter. Byrne’s ball sent Burke away down the right. And though he skilfully cut inside Bolger, his shot past Dennison was brilliantly cleared off the line by visiting skipper Ryan Brennan.
While Drogheda had another escape on 44 minutes, when Greene’s snap header from Byrne’s cross flashed wide, Rovers were happy to hear the half-time whistle as Brennan’s shot through a crowded area was clumsily clasped at the second attempt by Pohls.
The Hoops goalkeeper’s poor handling was evident again within two minutes of the restart when he failed to gather a Farrell free kick. Relief came from James-Taylor just not being able to turn the loose ball home.
James-Taylor got another sight of goal from yet another Farrell delivery into the area on 67 minutes, shooting over on the turn before Rovers threatened for the first time in the second half.
Burns’ ball over the top sent new signing Marc McNulty through to lob Dennison, but Andy Quinn did well to get back and take the ball off his toe.
Drogheda remained well in the game, however, James-Taylor shooting into the side-netting before they were deservedly level on 74 minutes.
A quick free kick by Luke Heeney sent wingback Conor Kane away down the left.
His acred cross was acrobatically turned home by the stretching James-Taylor to give Drogheda no more than their endeavour warranted.
Shamrock Rovers: Pohls; Cleary (Honohan, 58), Lopes, Kavanagh (Grace, 58); O’Neill, Poom; Burns, Byrne (Farrugia, 68), C. O’Sullivan; Burke (McNulty, 58); Greene (Watts, 68).
Drogheda United: Dennison; Quinn, Webster (Keaney, 68), Bolger; Ahui, Brennan (Markey, 66), Heeney, Kane; Farrell, Taylor (Foley, 82), Pierrot.
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
Attendance: 3,681.
The goal should have been disallowed and Galway should have had a few frees given to them but those are the calls on the day, well done to Cork, great game of hurling but poor Galway three all ireland losses in three weeks
@Henry Madden: I think the goal was ok but only because it bounced before going into the goal. If you were anywhere else on the pitch threw the ball up to strike it and were hooked, it’s not a foul of the ball. In this case she threw it up to strike it, was either hooked or pushed off it, the ball bounced before the line and rolled over, just a bounce of the ball in it in the end.
@Henry Madden: she was fouled while throwing the ball up to strike it. She didn’t throw the ball into the net on purpose. She was prevented from striking it. So should the team who were fouled be punished by giving the opposition a 2nd chance via a penalty, or should the score stand and be awarded to the team attempting to play by the rules in this play?
Between the LGFA and the Camogie why will they just not do what is required to make the game better and fairer, get rid of the stupid charging rules.
@Ronan O’Sullivan: disagree. Camoige/hurling is not rugby. The balance, footwork, coordination above brute force any day. The GAA tackle gives no legal way to stop charging. Unless you can pull down the ball carrier barging is illegal.