Quick-fire brace puts the Drogs in charge
IT will take a swing of massive proportions in this Friday’s second leg to deny Drogheda United a place in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off - but history shows that two-goal leads in such games aren’t insurmountable.
Remember February 8th 2003 anyone? Yes, Harry McCue’s Drogs - then aiming to preserve their Premier status - went into the second leg of their play-off against Galway United with a 2-0 deficit to overcome.
Few gave the Boynesiders a chance, but Andy Myler and Declan O’Brien struck in the second half to force extra time, and Danny O’Connor then headed a famous winner to spark joyous scenes at United Park.
In those days even the Premier club had to come through two play-off matches and in the first of those, ironically, Drogheda had defeated Cobh Ramblers 4-2 on aggregate.
Cobh’s task now, though, is that much harder than Drogheda faced against Galway because they must turn this tie around in their away leg, and if Drogheda play close to the level they’re capable of, then they should progress to face Wexford Youths next week for a place in the 2017 Premier Division ranks.
Pete Mahon’s men will be brimming with confidence after the events of last Saturday, when they made the long trek to St Colman’s Park and ended Cobh’s five-match winning streak in impressive fashion.
The starting XI was the same one that put UCD to the sword in the final match of the regular season, and once again Drogheda produced a top-drawer performance.
Close to 2,000 people packed into the old ground, the vast majority of them hoping to see Cobh take a step towards a return to the top flight for the first time since 2008. However, all thoughts of promotion were cast side for precisely 60 seconds in the eighth minute as a minute’s applause took place around the ground in tribute to Munster Rugby head coach and former number 8 Anthony Foley, who had passed away suddenly in Paris the week before.
The first chance of the match arrived soon after that and went to the home side as Rob Lehane got in behind Drogheda’s defence before lobbing the ball over the bar.
Another opportunity went begging in the 28th minute when Garry Comerford - fresh from scoring 1-5 to help Stradbally to a famous victory in the Laois Senior Football Championship Final the previous weekend - failed to trouble Drogs keeper Stephen McGuinness with a header from a corner kick.
The Boynesiders enjoyed their fair share of possession in the first half, but they didn’t threaten to score until the half-hour mark when Marc Griffin saw his shot blocked and Richie Purdy fired wide from the rebound.
Cobh’s Shane O’Connor had a glimpse of goal in the 40th minute after escaping from the Drogs defence, but his composure deserted him as he blazed over the crossbar.
Then, on the stroke of half-time the Cobh goal came under threat when Adam Wixted cut inside from the right wing before unleashing a powerful low drive which was kept out by home goalkeeper Paul Hunt.
And there was still time for a Luke Gallagher effort that drifted wide.
If the first half was a pretty even contest, Mahon’s half-time team talk seemed to do the trick as Drogheda came out and dominated after the interval, and they finally made it count with a crucial quick-fire double around the hour mark.
Man-of-the-match Purdy did all the hard graft for the first goal as he went on a mazy run down the left flank, culminating in a pinpoint cross, and Griffin rose highest in a crowded box to head decisively back across goal and into the far corner of Hunt’s net.
But the best was yet to come just two minutes later as the Drogs poured forward again and earned themselves a free kick 25 yards out. Skipper Sean Thornton rolled the ball into the path of Gareth McCaffrey who sent a spectacular strike past the helpless Hunt for his fifth goal in nine appearances since joining the club on loan from Shamrock Rovers.
In an instant, the number 16’s needless sending-off in Athlone, which cost him a three-match suspension, was forgiven!
Cobh boss Stephen Henderson responded with a double substitution, bringing on Connor Ellis and their highly rated teenager Matthew Whelan, but almost immediately Griffin nearly put Drogheda out of sight in the 70th minute when he beat Hunt for a second time, only to see Cobh’s Charlie Fleming track back in time to clear off the line.
Drogheda, too, rang the changes as McCaffrey, Jake Hyland and Griffin were all replaced in the last 15 minutes. Still, a Cobh goal in the latter stages would have put a completely different complexion on this tie and they nearly halved the deficit in stoppage time when Craig Donnellan’s strike clipped the crossbar before bouncing to safety.
The scoreline remained 2-0, however, and Drogheda could hardly have anticipated a better position to be in going into Friday’s home leg. United Park will be buzzing again!