Leaders almost lose proud unbeaten record in Weavers Park thriller
DROGHEDA United came closer than any other club to ending Shelbourne’s unbeaten start to the season but had to settle for a richly deserved point after an entertaining and action-packed encounter at Weavers Park on Friday.
However, the match will be remembered for the wrong reasons as assistant ref Dermot Broughton was hit on the neck by a flare thrown by a Shels fan in the moments after Seán Boyd’s goal made it 2-2 deep in stoppage time.
Referee Rob Hennessy stopped play amid fears that the game would be abandoned, but after a quarter-hour delay the remaining minutes were completed without further incident, but with Mr Broughton running the line on the opposite side of the pitch.
The Drogs had Jethren Barr making his league debut in goal after Andrew Wogan picked up an injury in training, but the early play was at the opposite end as the Boynesiders’ high press yielded two scoring opportunities. Oisín Gallagher robbed JJ Lunney to set-up Warren Davis who fired straight at Conor Kearns, and then Davis himself won back possession to set up Gary Deegan whose fine effort was smothered by the Shels keeper.
On 18 minutes, Mark Coyle had the visitors’ first goal attempt, which Barr saved comfortably, but it was Drogheda who struck the first blow moments later. Shels claimed for a foul by Adam Foley in the buildup, but play continued and Ryan Brennan – making his first start of the season up top – returned the ball to Foley. After shrugging off a weak challenge from Gavin Molloy, Foley cut the ball back perfectly for Gallagher who struck the ball low to the corner of the net from 18 yards - his first goal for the club.
John Martin and former Drogs striker Dean Williams both had a sight of goal after getting in behind the defence, but Andrew Quinn and Hayden Cann respectively did enough to snuff out the danger.
Drogheda responded with the best move of the match on 34 minutes as Gary Deegan released Brennan who played a lovely ball up the left flank for Davis. The youngster, who turned 19 during the week, attacked the empty space before squaring to the late-arriving Brennan whose shot was blocked by a defender.
There was a heart-in-mouth moment when a Will Jarvis cross seemed to strike the arm of Gallagher, but in fairness Shels’ appeals for a penalty were muted and referee Hennessy waved play on.
Liam Burt pulled two shots well wide for the visitors, but on 43 minutes they coughed up possession in a dangerous area again, only for Davis to fire narrowly wide.
Drogheda looked set to take a narrow lead into the interval, but Coyle had other ideas and after latching onto a half-clearance he advanced into the box. Cann seemed to have the situation under control, shepherding the Shels captain away from goal, but Barr advanced from his line and as the centre-half hesitated Coyle dinked the ball into the empty net.
In the first minute of the second half Cann made a vital block on Williams after a brilliant run by Jarvis, but Drogheda almost restored their lead from their next attack as Quinn advanced up the right flank and linked with Darragh Markey. His excellent cross was missed in the air by Kearns under pressure from Brennan, and Brennan – now on the ground with his back to goal – hooked the ball inches wide.
Then Drogheda got a bit lucky as a wind-assisted kick by Kearns caught out the two centre-halves and landed at the feet of Williams, but he couldn’t react quickly enough and the alert Barr dived at the striker’s feet to grab the ball.
Moments later, a brilliant pass from Lunney released Jarvis, but the on-loan Hull City winger shot well wide with only Barr to beat.
It looked like being a costly miss when Drogheda went in front for the second time on 69 minutes. Killian Cailloce, who had come on as a sub only seconds earlier, was unceremoniously tripped by Coyle 30 yards from goal and Evan Weir’s free-kick took a big deflection off Seán Boyd in the defensive wall and beat the stranded Kearns.
Damien Duff emptied his bench as Shels chased an equaliser, but the Drogs almost went 3-1 up on 85 minutes as Barr fisted a clearance to Markey and his pinpoint pass released Davis. The teenager held off two defenders and got his shot away, only for Kearns to make a fine save with his right leg.
That proved a crucial moment as in the fourth of five added minutes Tyreke Wilson launched a hopeful ball into the box and Boyd got in behind Cann to plant a fine header beyond Barr for 2-2.
After play resumed following the flare incident Weir stood tall to block a Keith Ward free kick and Foley’s clearance from a corner-kick signalled the last action of a thriller.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Jethren Barr 7; Andrew Quinn 8, Jack Keaney 7, Hayden Cann 7, Evan Weir 8; Gary Deegan 8, Oisín Gallagher 8; Adam Foley 7, Darragh Markey 7 (Matthew O’Brien 87, 7), Warren Davis 8; Ryan Brennan 7 (Killian Cailloce 68, 7). Subs not used: Frantz Pierrot, David Webster, Zishim Bawa, Emre Topcu, Aaron McNally, Conor Kane, Ryan Maher.
SHELBOURNE: Conor Kearns 7; Tyreke Wilson 7, Paddy Barrett 7, Gavin Molloy 6, Kameron Ledwidge 7 (Shane Farrell 75, 6); Mark Coyle 8 (Evan Caffrey 79, 7), JJ Lunney 6; Liam Burt 6 (Keith Ward 80, 6), John Martin 7 (Seán Boyd 67, 7), Will Jarvis 7; Dean Williams 6 (Matty Smith 75, 6). Subs not used: Shane Griffin, John O’Sullivan, Lewis Temple, Lorcan Healy.
ATTENDANCE: 2,232.