AIRTRICITY LEAGUE Drogheda Utd 0 Shamrock Rovers 2:TWO GOALS in the space of four minutes midway through the second half saw Shamrock Rovers go three points clear at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division.
Drogheda battled gamely throughout and were enjoying their best spell of the match when the Hoops struck twice to secure the points.
Rovers began the match in assured fashion and as early as the third minute James Chambers drove down the right and pulled the ball across for Gary Twigg who drove his shot narrowly over.
Michael Daly then nicked the ball from Twiggs’ toe as he was about to pull the trigger and Stephen Bradley’s volley was saved by Robert Duggan.
Twigg had all the time in the world but rushed his shot and miskicked as the ball rolled back harmlessly to Duggan.
It was quarter of an hour before Drogheda moved out of their half when Paul Crowley met Peter McMahon’s cross but his header sailed over the bar.
As the Hoops continued to dominate Stephen Bradley crossed for Twigg who managed to connect but he sent the ball wide.
With the interval looming, Chambers whipped another fine delivery towards the far post and with Twigg looming, Corey Treacy crucially got his head on the ball to send it out for a corner. Aidan Price glanced a header just wide from the resulting kick.
The league leaders took up where they left off at the start of the second half as Paddy Kavanagh picked up possession and drove towards goal before unleashing a pile-driver that Duggan did really well to tip over.
In a rare sortie forward Eric McGill sent John Flood away. However, he failed to trouble Alan Mannus sending his shot straight at the net minder.
Just beyond the hour debutant Conor Sinnott won possession 35 yards from goal and produced a fine shot which Mannus, at full stretch, pushed away to safety.
Rovers eventually broke the deadlock with 68 minutes gone and the goal was simplicity itself as Billy Dennehy made progress down the left before sending the ball into Twigg who ghosted through the middle to guide the ball to the net.
Four minutes later the visitors sealed their win when Billy Dennehy fired a loose ball from just inside the box past Duggan.
Late on Rovers’ Robert Bayly was booked for a second time and received a red card.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Duggan, Treacy, McNally, McGill, Sinnott (McNamara 75), Crowley, Flood (Fitzpatrick 75), Osborne, Daly, Brennan, McMahon (Meenan 75).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Chambers, Price, Murray, Stevens, Kavanagh (O'Connor 77), Bradley (Rice 75), Bayly, Dennehy, Twigg (Murphy 86), Stewart.
Referee: A. Buttimer(Cork)
