Collapse after bad injury to defender

DROGHEDA TOWN GOREY RANGERS 2 3

DROGHEDA Town are anxiously awaiting news about their centre-half Stephen Doran after he suffered what was feared to be a broken shinbone during Sunday’s Leinster Junior Cup first-round tie at Blackstone Motors Marian Park.

Manager Robbie Horgan admitted it had been an afternoon of very mixed emotions after his side squandered a 2-0 lead in the aftermath of the long delay caused by his centre-half’s injury.

The visitors from Wexford actually made a bright start in the opening five minutes, but the Boynesiders soon got into their rhythm and it was no surprise when they took the lead in slightly unusual circumstances.

An indirect free kick was awarded inside the box, possibly for the Gorey keeper handling a back-pass, and Andy Hickey squared the ball to Andrew Tinley who blasted it into the back of the net.

Things got even better for Town when they doubled their advantage in the 25th minute. Dale Harding did the hard work by winning possession before crossing to the near post where Tinley - making his first start in a number of months - nipped in front of his marker to redirect the ball past the Gorey keeper.

However, the balance of play changed after Doran went down in agony following a tackle that the referee decided was a fair challenge.

Play was halted for some 20 minutes while ambulance crew attended to the defender, and although first reports afterwards suggested there were no broken bones, further tests are due to be held.

When play resumed the home side’s momentum from earlier in the game had been lost, but they managed to reach half-time with their two-goal lead still intact.

However, it was a different story in the second half as Gorey took full advantage of the absence of Doran, and also his usual centre-half partner Ciaran Cluskey Kelly who was unavailable for this match.

The Wexford men turned the tie completely on its head with goals in the 55th, 65th and 75th minutes to turn a two-goal deficit into a narrow lead.

Town used their full complement of five subs in an attempt to turn the tide, but they couldn’t generate a clear-cut chance in the latter stages and it’s Gorey who progress to round two in the provincial competition. DROGHEDA TOWN: Aaron Shanahan, Andy Hickey, Stephen Doran, David McTeggart, Eoghan Breathnach, Marty Walsh, Roy Kierans, Dean Haggins, Dale Harding, Ross Reid, Andrew Tinley. Subs: Darren Kavanagh, Vinny O’Hare, Jordan Kelly, Sanele Duma, Calum Cooney, Kevin Dunne, Bryan Smith.