Sligo Rovers lost 2-1 to Drogheda United in our first game with spectators for quite some time, with 100 season ticket holders allowed to enter the Showgrounds to witness an admittedly poor performance. We return to 2nd in the table after Chris Lyons’ brace and Shane Blaney’s late header, behind Shamrock Rovers on goal difference.
Rovers made 2 changes from our last match, with Ryan De Vries and Shane Blaney coming in for Romeo Parkes (after his red card against Finn Harps) and Garry Buckley (he’s injured). 17-year-old Sean McAteer made his first appearance in a Sligo Rovers senior squad when he was named on the bench for Saturday’s game. Drogheda made 3 switches of their own from our visit to Head in the Game Park in goals, defence and midfield.
The Bit O’Red started the first half in control but were quickly shocked by a dagger though Chris Lyons when Greg Bolger gave away possession. The ball was collected by Lyons who spotted Ed McGinty off his line and found the net with an audacious lob from close to 25 yards out. Rovers had to fend off the incessant Drogheda press throughout the half with the visitors’ style of play showing why they lie 4th in the table. This isn’t to say we didn’t have chances though, with Figueira coming close midway through the half.
The second half proved to be a lot more fruitful for Liam Buckley’s boys in terms of creating chances, with Ryan De Vries, Jordan Gibson, Robbie McCourt and Lewis Banks all coming close, but it would prove to be Lyons again who struck a hammer blow on the hour mark by striking well above McGinty’s dive after beating Shane Blaney to the ball. Ironically, it would be Blaney who brought hope back into the contest late on from a corner to head the ball and loop over Odumosu’s dive, but in the end, it wasn’t to be as Drogheda saw out an important 2-1 win.
Thanks for reading despite the loss. Our next game is Pat’s away next Friday. Join us here for another report, and on YouTube for post-match analysis.
Teams
SLIGO ROVERS: E McGinty, L Banks, J Mahon, G Buckley, R McCourt, W Figueira, G Bolger, N Morahan, J Gibson, M Byrne (J Kenny 46), R De Vries (C Heaney 88).
DROGHEDA UNITED: D Odumosu, J Brown, D Massey, C Kane, D O’Reilly, G Deegan, D Markey (J Clarke 79), R Murray (K Phillips 62), M Doyle, J Hyland, C Lyons (D Corcoran 70).
REF: Robert Hennessy
Rovers Ratings
Ed McGinty: 5 – Should’ve done better on the second goal – limited himself by not standing tall but there’s a reason I play for my local team and he plays for a professional club.
Lewis Banks: 6 – Wasn’t at too much on the right.
John Mahon: 6 – Suffered without Buckley beside him.
Shane Blaney: 5 – Questionable for both goals but he saved his skin somewhat with the goal.
Robbie McCourt: 6 – Nearly scored in the second half, did well as a wingback.
Greg Bolger: 6 – Lost the ball for the first goal and struggled from there.
Niall Morahan: 6 – Taken off at half time for Horgan in a change of system.
Walter Figueira: 6 – Had some moments but didn’t threaten overall.
Jordan Gibson: 6 – Tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck later on but couldn’t create chances.
Ryan De Vries: 5 – Unless his game is modelled around Roberto Firmino I don’t know what he was doing so far down the pitch. Hooked for Heaney with 2 minutes left.
Johnny Kenny: 6 – Didn’t get much service when he came on.
Colm Horgan: 6 – Anonymous at times after coming on.
Cillian Heaney: N/A – Showed fight in the little time he was on.