Drogs don’t slip in ba
A POTENTIAL upset was avoided in Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon as Drogheda United put their relegation struggle on hold to make a winning start to their FAI Cup campaign.
Ultimately it was an emphatic win against this year’s FAI Junior Cup beaten finalists Evergreen, although it was only in the final 20 minutes that the Boynesiders really made their greater fitness and skill levels count against their non-league opponents.
Indeed, in a 15-minute spell towards the end they struck three times - equalling their goal tally for the previous 13 competitive games.
Manager Pete Mahon wasn’t about to take any risks with his selection, fielding a strong starting XI, although his hand was forced to a large extent by the large number of absentees.
Thomas Byrne missed out through suspension and Colm Deasy, Kevin Farragher, Sean Brennan, Gavin Brennan and Stephen Elliott were ruled out through injury, while fringe players Eoghan Dempsey and Jamie Hollywood weren’t available because of their commitments at the World University Games.
On the plus side, 39-year-old Dave Mulcahy was cleared to make his debut for the Boynesiders in place of Lloyd Buckley - against the club he played for as a boy.
Indeed, Mulcahy’s children currently play at underage level for Evergreen and it was certainly a day to remember for the veteran defender as he was made captain by manager Pete Mahon. He was one of the three changes from the side that lost to Cork City the week before, with Adam Wixted and Richie Purdy also starting in place of Sean Brennan and Byrne.
Not surprisingly, Evergreen came out with all guns blazing, perhaps sensing that an upset might be on the cards, especially if they could make an early breakthrough.
Conor English had two early volleys, one of which flew wide of the upright and the second was struck straight at keeper Stephen McGuinness.
However, the Drogs struck straight after that second scare, in the eighth minute, as the ball was quickly worked up to Conor Kane on the left flank.
The 18-year-old full-back galloped up the wing and eventually released Chris Mulhall who worked space for himself in the box before sweeping the ball past keeper Philly Johnston.
That early breakthrough settled the Drogs and Wixted made an enterprising run up the right side of the field before unleashing a low shot which was scrambled behind for a corner.
Drogheda thought just for a second that they had doubled their advantage when Stephen Dunne rose highest to plant a header in the net from a Sean Russell free kick, but referee Jim McKell immediately whistled for a free kick, signalling that Dunne had climbed on the back of his marker.
Mulhall, hungry for more success after breaking his Drogheda duck, then sent a rising shot over the bar after being set up by Jack Bayly just before the half-hour mark.
And on 36 minutes it was Mulhall who threatened once more, meeting a Shane Elworthy cross with a downward header that bounced up off the all-weather surface and clipped the crossbar before going over.
However, just before the break Drogheda got a reminder that they still had a lot of work to do to secure victory as English attacked down the right and unleashed a shot that McGuinness did well to touch onto the crossbar.
The danger wasn’t yet cleared, but Mulcahy showed good awareness as he was first to the loose ball and headed over his own crossbar to safety.
Drogheda needed the comfort of a second goal and they nearly got it straight after the restart when Mulcahy won the ball with a crunching challenge in midfield and then dinked a superb pass over the top for Wixted, only for Johnson to race from his goal and flick the ball away from the speedy forward.
On the hour mark Bayly fired a free kick into the side netting and Russell was then denied by Johnson, after McGuinness had been forced to dive to his left to keep out a Sean Barcoe effort for the hosts.
Any nerves in the visitors’ camp were finally eased on 71 minutes when substitute Ryan Masterson was put through on goal and he toe-poked the ball past the advancing Johnston for 2-0.
Straight after that, a great move involving Purdy, Wixted and Masterson ended with the latter being denied by the keeper, but Drogheda copper-fastened the victory with a third goal on 81 minutes.
Kane attacked down the left before releasing Masterson, and although his shot cannoned off the post Mulhall was onto the rebound