Super Town stun leaders
ROBBIE Horgan hailed one of Drogheda Town’s finest results during his two years in charge after they put the Major Sunday leaders to the sword at DIFE last week.
Kilbarrack travelled north having tasted defeat only once in the league this season and their away record stood at five wins from five, but they came up against a Drogheda side who have been very strong at home.
Late goals from Emmanuel Santos and Dean Haggins secured all three points for Town who currently lie third but have played several more games than each of the other promotion hopefuls.
Giving his reaction, an ebullient Horgan said: ‘It’s right up there possibly [with the best performance we’ve had] considering the opposition we played.
‘I couldn’t fault it at all and the manner of our goals and our game management was spot-on.
‘We had them watched a couple of times and they are a very offensive team, but we didn’t give them a minute and to be honest it could have been four or five if we’d taken our chances.
DROGHEDA TOWN KILBARRACK UNITED 2 0
‘Dean Haggins was excellent again in front of the back four and our keeper Aaron Shanahan has only conceded two goals in three games.
‘But that win was for Andrew Tinley who is very sick in hospital and hasn’t been able to play since December. All the players and staff wish him a speedy recovery.’
In the first half Town’s best opportunities fell to Santos and Sam Reilly, both of whom were denied by fine saves from the Kilbarrack keeper, while the home side’s deliveries from set pieces could have been more pinpoint on a few occasions.
In the second period Town continued to hold the upper hand, with Santos, Reilly and Dale Harding having the best openings. The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute when the ball was played up to Santos on the left side of the Kilbarrack penalty area. Showing great speed of thought he looped the ball over his head, taking two defenders out of the equation, and then buried a shot in the bottom corner of the net on the half-volley.
Naturally the game became more open after that as Kilbarrack sought an equaliser, but in the 80th minute they were caught on the counter-attack.
Marty Walsh ran up the left touchline from inside his own half before delivering an enticing ball into the six-yard area. Santos’ effort was blocked on the line, but with several Town players making runs into the box it was Haggins who was best placed to convert the rebound and secure all three points.
Town, who have four games remaining, play their final home match on Monday April 9th at home to Corduff. They are hoping to have their home pitch at Marian Park available to stage that game, otherwise it will be in DIFE.
DROGHEDA TOWN: Aaron Shanahan, Steven Waters, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, David McTeggart, Andy Hickey, Sam Reilly, Dean Haggins, Roy Kierans, Dale Harding, Marty Walsh, Emmanuel Santos. Subs: Kevin Dunne, Eoghan Breathnach, Barry Kelly, Callum Cooney, Michele Corsi, Sanele Duma, Jordan Harmon.