Slow-starting Drogheda pay the ultimate price

DROGHEDA UNITED FINN HARPS 2 3

A LACKLUSTRE first-half performance proved costly as Drogheda United suffered a home defeat to Finn Harps in the SSE Airtricity U-19 League last Saturday.

The Boynesiders lined out with Eoin Broughan, Oisin Proudfoot and Ryan Harte in midfield and Levi Boardman and Jordan Adeyemo up front, but after a bright start by the hosts it was Finn Harps who hit the bar after two minutes.

As the game went on the visitors put the Drogs defence and midfield under serious pressure and took the lead on 11 minutes from a great attack.

The Drogs defence were being harried by a strong-running Harps team which looked like scoring almost every time they attacked, and goal number two duly arrived on 20 minutes following some poor passing out of the home defence.

The Drogs actually did well to keep the score to 2-0 at half-time, but they started the second half with purpose. They brought on Josh Scully and Tom Adeyinka who took a grip on midfield and they pulled a goal back on the hour when Adeyinka made room for himseld in a crowded penalty area and scored with a good shot.

The Drogs pressed hard for the equaliser and brought on Dylan Cullotty, making a welcome return to the team after being injured in the first match of the season.

However, try as they might they could not force an equaliser and Harps made it 3-1 from a breakaway attack in the last minute of normal time.

In the third minute added on for stoppages Adeyemo scored from a penalty, but it was too little too late.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Malachy Doyle, Dylan Connolly, John Barry, Cian Quinn (Lucas Maher), Sean Cronin, Ryan Harte (Josh Scully), Eoin Broughan, Gabi Agihinta (Tom Adeyinka), Oisin Proudfoot (Dylan Culloty), Levi Boardman, Jordan Adeyemo. Subs not used: Daniel Grace, Leo Tang.