Cup aristocrats Shamrock Rovers got the fright of their lives as plucky Drogheda came from behind to force a replay, courtesy of a Joe Gallen goal 13 minutes from the end, at United Park last night.

But six minutes earlier it looked as if the Boynesiders were on their way out of the competition when the visitors broke the deadlock in a scrappy game thanks to a 71st minute goal from substitute Sean Francis.

Francis was only on the pitch for four minutes when he was perfectly placed to head a Jason Colwell cross low into the net after the home defence failed to clear Colwell's initial corner.

Given their wretched luck this season, Drogheda seemed set for an early exit from the competition but they were rewarded for their persistence when Gallen turned on a Greg O'Dowd cross to fire home from 12 yards.

It was no more than the Boynesiders deserved and really they could have been out of reach at that stage. They should have been ahead at the break when a stinging drive from Rod de Khors hit the crossbar and within 13 minutes of the re-start John Coady had skimmed the Rovers crossbar with a direct free from all of 40 yards.

Drogheda United: Byrne, Hill, Coady, Impey, Carroll, De Khors, Beggs, O'Dowd, Gallen, J Reid, N Reid. Sub: Fox for O'Dowd.

Shamrock Rovers: Forde, Britton, Dunne, Brazil, Whelan, Colwell, Treacy, Cousins, Stokes, O'Neill, Morrisroe. Subs: Francis for Treacy, Kenny for O'Neill.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).