Boys team make their point

3 3

THE new Dublin & District League summer football season came to Marley’s Lane in Rathmullen on Saturday - and in true Irish tradition it was raining.

However, Drogheda Boys made light of the poor weather conditions and battled hard to earn themselves an opening-day point in this Under-15 Major clash.

The pitches, which havie had no football on them since last December, were in pristine condition, all thanks to the hard-working back-room volunteers at the club.

Palmerstown FC, resplendent in their green kit on St Patrick’s weekend, were the visitors for Drogheda Boys’ first game of the campaign, and the hosts started brightly and quickly got in their passing rhythm.

The breakthrough goal arrived after only seven minutes when Peter Meegan received the ball in the middle, looked up and lofted the ball over the onrushing defence to Taju Adigun who cut in to unleash a wonderful curling shot to the bottom left corner.

Palmerstown responded well and pressed all over the pitch, disrupting the Drogheda Boys rhythm. Their hard work paid dividends in the 13th minute when they hauled themselves back onto level terms.

Drogheda were coming under increasing pressure and on 26 minutes Palmerstown scored again to take the lead, one which they held until half-time.

On the restart the Boys found another gear, getting to the ball first and finding their man with more accuracy, and they were rewarded on 36 minutes when Aaron Smith picked up the ball in midfield and with a wonderful pass released Adigun who scored his and Drogheda’s second.

Both sides continued to try and find space and on 45 minutes Daire Sharkey bustled his way through the Palmerstown defence and unleashed a cracking shot which the keeper pushed onto Square Utd v Drogheda T Phoenix, 10.00 (at College Park); Drogheda Marsh White v Duleek Diamonds, 10.00 (at Grammar School). Black: Albion White v Drogheda T Falkcons, 12.00; Duleek Tigers v Termonfeckin Green, 10.00; Donacarney Blazers v Walshestown Foxes, 11.00 (at Castlemartin); Square Red v Duleek Arrows, 11.15 (at College Park). Yellow: Walshestown Wolves v Drogheda Marsh Cres, 11.15; Albion Green v Drogheda T Eagles, 10.00; Albion Black v Slane Wdrs, 11.00. Purple: Dromin Utd v Walshestown Vikings, 11.15; Donacarney Bears v Duleek Celtic, 10.00 (at Castlemartin). Friendly: Donacarney Lions v Boyne Rovers, 12.00 (at Castlemartin). the post.

From the ensuing rebound Palmerstown broke up the field to make it 3-2, but Drogheda weren’t about to give up on thier own patch.

Moving the ball wide at every opportunity, they pressed hard Premier: Bellurgan Utd v Ardee Celtic, 1.30; Redeemeer v Albion Rovers, 2.00. Div 1: Dromin Juv v Quay Celtic, 12.30; Woodview v Albion Utd, 12.30. Group 1: Ardee Celtic v Shamrocks, 10.00; Muirhevnamor v Ardee Utd, 10.00. Group 2: Rockville v Ardee Whites, 11.00; Glenmuir Celtic v Ardee Blues, 11.00. Premier: Ardee Celtic v Rock Celtic, 11.00. Premier: St Dominics v Ardee Celtic, 12.30. Div 1: Ardee Utd v Quay Olympic, 12.30; Albion Rovers v Bellurgan Celtic, 12.30. Premier: Quay Celtic v Termonfeckin, 12.30; Dromin Juv v Muirhevnamor, 12.30. Div 1: Bellurgan Utd v Albion Rovers, 2.00. Premier: Bellurgan Utd v Ardee Celtic, 6.15. Div 1: Ardee Utd v Rockville, 6.15. in search of an equaliser and with just two minutes remaining they found a way past the Palmerstown defence.

The move began on half-way where Alan Beattie played the ball wide to Peter Meegan and he took it round the opposition left-back Rivermount Boys v Stamullen, 11.00. Silver: Corduff v Laytown Utd, 1.00. Blue: Laytown Utd v Balbriggan, 11.00. Violet: Stamullen v Kilmount, 10.00. A: East Meath Utd v Corduff, 10.00. D: Howth Celtic v Laytown Utd, 10.00; East Meath Utd v Ashbourne Utd, 11.00. E: Stamullen v Donnycarney, 10.00. F: McKelvey Celtic v Laytown Utd, 10.00. G: Baldoyle Utd v East Meath Utd, 11.00; Stamullen v Swords Celtic, 11.00. A: Donacarney Celtic v Clonee Utd, 10.00; Laytown Utd v Swords Celtic, 12.00. B: Glebe North v East Meath Utd, 10.00. E: Maynooth Town v East Meath Utd, 12.00. G: Skerries Town v Laytown Utd, 12.00. H: Bohemians v Stamullen, 12.00. North: Ratoath Harps v Stamullen, 10.00. Kevin Moran Premier/A Cup prov rd (extra time/ pens): East Meath Utd (A) v Ashbourne Utd (A), 11.15; Laytown Utd (A) v Ratoath Harps (A), 10.00. A: Maynooth Town v East Meath Utd, 10.00. C: Stamullen v Dunboyne, 10.00. F: East Meath Utd v Balbriggan, 10.00. G: Laytown Utd v Mid-Sutton, 11.15. Irish Rail B/C Cup prov rd (extra time/pens): Portrane Ath (C) v Stamullen (B), 1.00. Premier: Laytown Utd v East Meath Utd, 12.30. Brendan McKenna Prem/A Cup prov rd (extra time/pens): East Meath Utd (P) v Corduff (A), 10.00. E: Cloghertown Utd v Navan Road Utd, 10.00. and put a sweet cross in from the byeline for Sharkey who headed in from six yards. Ronnie Bradshaw Cup prov rd (extra time/pens): Rivermount Boys (A) v Drogheda Town (P), 11.15; Artane/Beaumont (A) v Albion Rovers (P), 2.00. Premier: Duleek v Artane/Beaumount, 2.00. Under-18 Metropolitan Girls Premier: Shelbourne v Kentstown Rovers, 11.15. •Dates have been finalised for the upcoming Drogheda Childen’s League Cup Finals at United Park.

The Under-13 Boys, Under-14 Boys and Under-14 Girls finals will take palce on April 30th, with the small-sided matches following a week later on May 7th.