08th June 2010

Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United

Match Report

Airticity League of Ireland
Rovers 1 Drogs 1

They say football is a simple game and it is only complicated by those who wish to wish to complicate. Last night's match was one of the simple ones. Simple in the fact that the revitalised Drogs played a lovely brand of simple football where every player knew what to do, what his limitations were, and what the game plan was. Darius' brand of football makes everything look easy- and yet this was the team which were over-run by Rovers in Hunky Park and which raised the white flag shortly after half time in Sligo.

A few short weeks is all it took to turn this team around and their play last night showed confidence and a belief in themselves which was not there under the previous regime. Paul Murphy got his chance in goal and did well overall. Corie and Eoghan continued at full back with Joe and Alan in the middle, but this was a different Corie and Eoghan with a willingness to use the ball when the occasion demanded and some of their attacking play in the second half was a delight to behold. Eric and Brendan were joined by Paul Crowley and Mick Daly in midfield and Garreth O'Connor took the forward position feeding John Flood.

The important thing in this match was to establish ourselves early and we made good confident start with Garreth pulling the strings in the middle and every man tackling and tracking back and in one swift move on 4 minutes Mick Daly had a good shot saved. Rovers were doing everything they could to take control and it is a tribute to our back four that they were limited to a few half chances, one of which saw Twigg latch onto a lucky rebound and almost give them the lead on 17, but he shot over. Two minutes later, Garreth shot wide from a good Joe Kendrick free, and on 20 a great move by Brendan McGill down the left saw Crowley head just wide. Rovers came more into the game for a while and Joe Kendrick made a good saving tackle on 28 and a minute later we defended a Rovers corner badly and were lucky not to go one down. But we made it to half time confidently and in the 46th minute a McNally missed tackle nearly cost us dearly, but we did not lose our purpose and Garreth created a chance for Flood on 47 and his good header was saved.

Rovers attempted to turn the screw and Chambers (remember him) rained in crosses from the right and despite a number of hairy moments of extreme pressure, we did not lose our focus in moving the ball carefully out of defence (not the big root which was de-rigeur up to now) and some of our football out of defence was a joy to watch. with Rovers pressing forward , they left holes at the back and we seemed to know how to unlock their defence, and after some great containing, on 66 Garreth placed John Flood with a great through ball and from a tight angle John Flood slid it under the advancing Mannus for a delightful and deserved lead goal. And this was the cue for Rovers to empty their bench, but their changes did not seem to have the desired effect until Bayly latched onto a loose ball in the 80th minute to beat Murphy with a good shot which seemed to bounce up and out of his arms.

Jamie and Ryan replaced Flood and Crowley and we nearly stole it in the last minute when Brendan McGill was unlucky not to connect from close in, but when the whistle went we knew that the point as well deserved and we now march confidently into the break (that tesco offer of six stella and a pizza for a 5er sounds good to me) to watch overpaid superstars act out the ritual which is called the 'world cup', but give me saint ollies on a sunday morning anytime, and as we watch it until our eyes glaze over below in the widda's, it won't be long before we long for a night in dory park with the team that Darius rebuilt!

Team: Murphy, Treacy, Osbourne, Kendrick, McNally, E. McGill, B. McGill. Crowley(Brennan 86), O'Connor, Daly, Flood (Duffy 83)
Subs not used: Skinner, Smyth, Fitzpatrick.