Potential of 15s on show in five-star display
DROGHEDA UNITED CAVAN MONAGHAN 5 0
HAVING suffered narrow loses in their first two matches, Drogheda United Under-15s showed some of their true potential when they scored their first victory of the season on Sunday in convincing fashion.
In windy conditions at DIFE the team concentrated on moving the ball through the visiting defence and they forced their first corner after only a minute.
Francis Campbell sent over a great cross from the right which had the Cavan/Monaghan defence scrambling and it was no surprise that the Drogs took the lead after 12 minutes when Campbell forced the ball home after great work by Tadgh Connolly, whose incisive running was causing problems for the visitors.
The Drogs made it 2-0 after 30 minutes when Campbell was taken down when though on goal, and the striker calmly stroked the penalty home. Campbell added a third a minute later when he finished a great move by Mc Donagh and Caffrey down the left.
Caffrey was unlucky not to add a fourth two minutes later when he shot wide from a good position.
The Drogs went in 3-0 up at half-time and soon after the restart John McDonagh hit a brilliant fourth goal when his shot from well outside the box sailed into the top of the net.
On 53 minutes the Drogs added their fifth goal when Tadgh Connolly’s brilliant shot thumped off the crossbar and Owen Murphy was on hand to tap the ball home.
It is always good to achieve a big victory, but it was the manner of the win which was most impressive, with great possession football played on the ground in very windy conditions, and they can look forward with positive anticipation to the long journey to Derry this coming weekend.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Jack McCarthy, Aaron Murphy, John McDonagh, Jack Crowe, Owen Murphy, Craig Gray, Aaron Naughton, Tadgh Connolly, Ruari Kinsella, Francis Campbell, Joshua Wall. Subs: Antonio Ignat, Nick Palov, Michael Leddy, Sean Buchanan, Luke Caffrey, Michael Hilliard, Michael Burns.