Drogs go the extra to advance
Crumlin United……………………………………… 1
Drogheda United…………………………………… 3
by Daire Walsh
Gary O’Neill and Daire Doyle were the key figures at John Hyland Park last night, as 2013 finalists Drogheda United needed extra-time to finally overcome a stern challenge from Crumlin United in the EA Sports Cup.
Showing six changes to the team that defeated arch-rivals Dundalk 4-1 on Friday evening, Drogs initially struggled to find their feet in the Baldonnell venue, but a delicate flick by Paul Crowley from a Shane Grimes delivery almost produced a goal on the half-hour mark.
However, the visitors were hit with a sucker punch four minutes before the interval, when centre-half Paul Andrews was penalised for upending Barry Slattery inside the area, and although netminder David Ryan was equal to Alan McGreal’s penalty, he was couldn’t prevent the winger from finding the net via the rebound.
Martin Loughran’s men continued to frustrate their big-time opponents upon the resumption, but even though they held firm for the majority of the contest, O’Neill eventually broke their resistance with a clinical close-range finish in second-half stoppage-time.
This ensured that 30 additional minutes were needed to separate these sides, and the superior fitness of Drogheda showed, with a superbly crafted goal by substitute Doyle, as well as a Ross Carrig own goal, helping decide the outcome.
CRUMLIN UNITED: Meehan; Reilly (Kenna 42), Carrig, Griffin, Redmond; Dempsey, Cramer (Kennedy 34), Rowe, Slattery (McGuinness 62), McGreal; Zambra.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Ryan; McCann (Daly 46), Andrews, McGuigan, Grimes; Walshe, Crowley (Doyle 62), Holohan (Foley 79), G Brennan; O’Neill, O’Brien.
Referee: B Connolly (Dublin).