Grant’s star turn in final thriller
Linfield Drogheda Utd 1
DROGHEDA United had heroes all over the pitch as they fought back from a goal down to beat Irish League kingpins Linfield at fortress Windsor Park.
Paul Doolin’s team had lost and drawn the two group fixtures against the Blues but saved their best until last as David Jeffrey’s team were completely outclassed by the Boynesiders.
Drogheda lined up without several big-name players such as keeper Dan Connor, Jason Gavin, Steven Gray, James Keddy, Shane Barrett, Richie Baker and Aidan O’Keeffe, while Graham Gartland and Stephen Bradley started despite being doubts before kick-off.
Yet the League of Ireland side should have been out of sight by half-time. The Linfield goal led a charmed life as the first 45 minutes somehow ended score-less.
Ollie Cahill (twice), Shane Robinson and Stuart Byrne were all foiled by keeper Alan Mannus, Byrne was twice narrowly off target and the luckless Eamon Zayed had one shot blocked and saw another crash off the upright.
It was more of the same on the restart as Mannus saved from Robinson and Zayed, but there was a feeling it wasn’t going to be Drogheda’s day when Damian Lynch had a penalty stopped by Mannus after a foul on Declan O’Brien in the box. Mannus’ heroics continued as he somehow turned Byrne’s shot round the post and Linfield fans were then in dreamland as McAreavey put them in front with a header.
Worse was to follow for Drogheda when O’Brien tore his cruciate ligament and was stretchered off - three months earlier Shane Barrett had suffered exactly the same injury in the group fixture at the same venue - but O’Brien’s replacement Tony Grant levelled with a superb 77th-minute strike.
Both sides had chances to win it in extra time, but it all came down to penalties and after Lynch had missed Drogheda’s first kick Grant, Stephen Bradley and Robinson all converted theirs.
In the meantime Vilmunen saved twice and Byrne then converted Drogheda’s final penalty of five to clinch a famous victory. LINFIELD: Alan Mannus, Jim Ervin, William Murphy, Noel Bailie, Pat McShane (Tim McCann 14), Mark Dickson, Paul McAreavey, Aidan O’Kane, Jamie Mulgrew (Timothy Mouncey 93), Glenn Ferguson, Peter Thompson (Michael Gault 55). Subs not used: Steven Douglas, Stephen Garret, Tommy Stewart, Greg Shannon.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Mikko Vilmunen, Damian Lynch, Brian Shelley, Graham Gartland, Simon Webb (Steven Gray 58), Shane Robinson, Stuart Byrne, Stephen Bradley, Ollie Cahill (Paul Keegan 77), Eamon Zayed, Declan O’Brien (Tony Grant 58). Subs not used: Gavin Whelan, Sami Ristila, Glen Fitzpatrick, Cian Byrne.
REFEREE: Adrian McCourt (Belfast) ATTENDANCE: 7,000