Soccer

Gavan Holohan snatches the winner as Drogheda shock Shamrock Rovers

Hoops fans vent their fury as Trevor Croly’s side fail to close the gap on second-placed Cork

Evan Osam of Shamrock Rovers with Daire Doyle of Drogheda United. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Evan Osam of Shamrock Rovers with Daire Doyle of Drogheda United. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sat Jul 26 2014 - 01:00

Shamrock Rovers 0 Drogheda United 1

Michael Schlingermann made a string of second-half saves to frustrate Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium as the pressure mounted on Hoops’ boss Trevor Croly.

Gavan Holohan’s early goal gave Drogheda a big win to move them up to eighth in the table as home fans vented their anger at Croly and the club’s board at the finish as Rovers blew a chance to move to within three points of Cork City who lost at Bohemians.

Rovers’ sluggish start was punished as the visitors deserved their 15th minute.

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A long throw from Daire Doyle was merely helped on off the head of a Rovers defender and Holohan’s crisp volley went in off the crossbar and ’keeper Barry Murphy.

That spurred Rovers into life and they almost levelled from their first corner of the game on 22 minutes. Sean O’Connor’s delivery came off a Drogheda player for skipper Conor Kenna whose header was straight at Schlingermann.

Three minutes later O’Connor showed poor composure as he blazed over the top after Ronan Finn put him in.

Drogheda wasted a gilt-edged opening to double their lead on 28 minutes. Gavin Brennan set-up Carl Walshe who skipped past Kenna only to slice over the bar.

Croly made a tactical switch in the hope of bringing a bit of impetus to his side with Marty Waters replacing Shane Robinson and Gary McCabe moved to play in the hole.

Rovers somehow avoided falling a second goal behind in first half stoppage time as Murphy saved his side with three good stops from Walshe, Gary O’Neill and then Holohan in turn.

Ciaran Kilduff almost levelled on 58 minutes but his shot was deflected to safety by Schlingermann. He saved twice more to foil McCabe’s long-range strikes and produced the stop of the night to turn Karl Sheppard’s late effort over the bar for a corner.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, Kenna, McGuinness, Osam; Bayly, Robinson (Waters, 39); McCabe, Finn, S. O'Connor (Kilduff, 54); Kelly (Sheppard, 67).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Schlingermann; Doyle, McNally, McGuigan, Grimes; Daly; Brady (S. O'Connor, 77), Holohan, G. Brennan, Walshe; O'Neill (O'Brien, 80).

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).