Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Drogheda United
By Jamie Moore at Tallaght Stadium
Shamrock Rovers closed to gap on leaders Dundalk to three points with this narrow win over Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.
Mikey Drennan was the match-winner again, scoring for the seventh time in eight matches since Danny North’s injury.
That winning goal came in the 19th minute and Drogheda should really have stopped it. Brandon Miele’s low cross somehow got through a crowd of Drogheda defenders in the box, and Drennan was free to tap into the net from inside the six yard to continue his excellent run of form.
It was by no means a vintage Rovers performance and Pat Fenlon knows they will need to improve for next week’s Dublin derby away to St. Pats, who are two points behind The Hoops after one third of the season.
Drogheda did not create any clear chances but could have got a draw had they shown a bit more ambition. Despite having much more possession, Rovers didn’t test Michael Schlingermann enough. Miele's late shot smashed off the crossing in what was their only other real chance of the second half.
Drennan could have doubled their lead ten minutes after he scored, but his shot flew by the post.
Ryan Brennan had another good chance just before half-time after a counter attack involving Keith Fahey and Simon Madden but his touch was too heavy.
Drogheda did not force Craig Hyland into a meaningful save but Sean Brennan did have two decent efforts that went just over the crossbar in the first half.
Three Brennan brothers started the match, Sean for Drogheda and Gavin and Ryan for Shamrock Rovers and they could be having an interesting discussion over their Saturday morning breakfast!
Sean called for his brother Gavin to be booked early in the first half but Gavin got him back with a strong tackle that went unpunished by the ref but meant Sean needed treatment from the Drogheda physio. Mr and Mrs Brennan might have to referee another battle on Saturday morning.
There were very few chances in a poor second half which saw Stephen McPhail join Keith Fahey in the Rovers’ midfield. Miele's effort was the only moment of excitement for a crowd of about 2,200.
Pat Fenlon’s team were comfortable in the closing minutes and kept their eighth clean sheet in eleven league matches.
Drogheda won their first two matches of the season but have not win in their nine games since, picking up just two points from those matches, Johnny McDonnell’s team will be looking over their shoulder in the coming weeks.
Dundalk will play struggling Bray Wanderers on Monday knowing that Shamrock Rovers are just three points behind them.
Hear from Shamrock Rovers Manager Pat Fenlon on 98FM Sport on Saturday morning from 7am and an extended interview on Now That's What I Call Sport on Sunday morning from 9am.
Shamrock Rovers – Hyland; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, D O’Connor; Miele, R Brennan, Cregg (McPhail, 69), G Brennan (McCabe, 60); Fahey; Drennan.
Drogheda United – Schlinggermann; Daly (McGowan, 49), A Byrne, Gorman, Marks; Duffy, Maher, Hughes (O’Reilly, 82), Walshe; S Brennan (Brady, 72); Mulvenna.
Ref – Sean Grant
