Derby day in Leinster League is just around the corner
NEXT Tuesday will see Drogheda United’s Leinster Senior League team meet Boyne Rovers for the second time this season, with Marley’s Lane the venue for a 6:30pm kick-off in the Premier Sunday division.
As it stands, there are four points between the teams in the table, with Drogheda trailing but with four games in hand. However, before that Boyne Rovers welcome Castleknock Celtic to Parkview on Sunday morning.
Both managers are looking forward to a local derby, but before that have to contend with Sunday fixtures following losses last weekend.
Boyne Rovers suffered a 4-2 defeat at home to league leaders Ratoath Harps, although Alan Connor’s side played much better than the scoreline suggested.
They dominated the first half, but the sides went in level at 1-1. Ben Buckley, Farai and Darren Thornton all had chances to score as the home side played with the breeze in that first period, but a defensive error gifted Ratoath the opening goal on the half-hour mark against the run of play.
Rovers hit back before the break direct from a corner when Max Gardiner whipped in the ball which looped over the keeper and nestled in the far corner of the net.
The Meath team have been clinical this season, though, and by the 75th minute they were 4-1 ahead. A Farai goal with 10 minutes left gave them hope, but they couldn’t close the gap any further.
Elsewhere, Drogheda United suffered an agonising loss as they exited the Polikoff Cup away to Monread - 3-2 after extra time.
Mickey Matthews’ team travelled to Clane short on numbers and in many ways it hurt their chances as the hosts could introduce fresh legs late on.
Monread led 1-0 at the break, but Drogheda levelled on 70 minutes, with Tapiwa Mutiwra finishing a well-worked move.
Harry Svedjar went close with a shot as Drogheda looked to nick a win, but the game went to extra time and it was the fresher legs of Monread which would make the difference.
A goal inside five minutes put Drogheda on the back foot and a second soon after gave the Kildare team a stranglehold on the game. Svedjar popped up with a goal with five minutes remaining and Drogheda piled on the pressure but just couldn’t force spot kicks.
Drogheda return to cup action this weekend as the face Verona in their rescheduled Albert Walsh tie on Sunday at 2pm in Coolmine.
In the Senior Sunday division Sean Brennan’s Drogheda Town travel to Dublin to face bottom side St John Bosco on Friday night.
Brennan will be hoping this can be the start of a run of games following a series of postponements since the turn of the year.