Boyd on the mark again as Shels win second straight

Sean Boyd hit the winner for the second week running as Shelbourne chalked up their first back-to-back victories of the season.

Shelbourne consolidate in mid-table while the only consolation after a fourth successive defeat for Drogheda sees them remain three points ahead of second bottom Finn Harps who lost at home to UCD.

Despite plenty of endeavour from both sides, a dour first half was devoid of any telling goalmouth action as Shelbourne manager Damien Duff watched from the stands in serving the second of a three-match dugout suspension.

With a good shape to them, Drogheda shaded a scrappy opening period as Shelbourne had to work hard to get their passing game going.

Reds' striker Boyd looked in on goal from Shane Farrell’s clever ball over the top 20 minutes in, but Sam Long was alert to the threat and out quickly to collect.

Aodh Dervin’s incisive ball then put Conor Kane away down the left. The wingback glided past several defenders before his weak cross was deflected out for a corner as Jack Moylan and Boyd hoped for a better delivery.

Drogheda’s only threat before the break stemmed from a Dayle Rooney corner on the half hour. Keith Cowen headed the ball back across goal to Sean Roughan whose shot scarcely troubled goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

With far more impetus to their game, Shelbourne thankfully sparked the game to life with what proved the only goal of the night six minutes after the interval.

A bout of good possession ended with Farrell's perfectly weighted diagonal ball picking out Boyd, who peeled off a defender to score with a well-placed downward header for his fifth goal of the season.

Their tails up, it might have been 2-0 five minutes later, skipper Luke Byrne’s powerful header arrowing just over the crossbar