Johnny Giles always said Gel saved his best for Milltown
IT IS GENERALLY argued that Gerry Martin, Drogheda United’s talented and skilful midfielder, reserves his best performances for his club’s annual visit to Glenmalure Park, Milltown.
Even Johnny Giles the Shamrock Rovers maestro has noted this over the past three seasons, since his return from English League football to manage the Hoops.
Once again on Sunday last Martin was at his best and climaxed his performance with a brilliantly taken winning goal just seven minutes from the end that extended the boynesiders unbeaten run to six games.
As the good attendance, sprinkled with a large contingent from Drogheda, seemed set to be satisfied with a draw, United repulsed yet another Rovers attack as the final minutes ticked by.
Christy Devlin’s clearance was flicked on by the industrious Eamon Fagan to Martin, lurching along the left flank just inside the homesters half.
The Drogheda based United man took up the pass, drew the Rovers defenders and from about 30 yards sent in a perfect crisp shot that gave goalkeeper Dave Henderson no chance, to snatch two more valuable League points in United’s steady rise up the table.
It was a memorable win for Ray Treacy making his first return to Milltown in a playing capacity since his appointment as manager of United just 13 weeks previously. Yet he was frank enough to state after the match that it was United’s least impressive performance of the past 6 games during which they have won 3 and drawn 3 for an impressive unbeaten run. While pleased at the result, he was not completely satisfied with the overall display against a Rovers side minus a number of regulars such as Pierce O’Leary due to join Vancourcr for £100,000 shortly, Johnny Giles, Noel Synnott and Robbie Gaffney.
In recent weeks there has been a great tightening up in the back four with goalkeeper Christy Devlin maintaining steady improvement in goals. In their last six unbeaten games, only three goals have been conceded in the 1-1 draws against Shelbourne and Dundalk and in the 2-1 win over Rovers. Much of this is also due to the excellent form of the big central defenders Martin Kerr and Fergie Ferguson who are developing a perfect understanding and are making goal-scoring difficult for the League’s successful goalscores.
Drocheda United — Devlin. Byrne (T), Cameron. Kerr, Ferguson, Bradley, Fagan, Martin, Treacy, Murray, Byrne (D.) 12 Kirwan for Treacy; 13 C Campbell.