Depleted Shamrock Rovers defeat Drogheda United

Shamrock Rovers bounced back from their defeat to Shelbourne a week ago by beating Drogheda United, making light of the lengthy list of absentees Stephen Bradley was forced to contend with at Weavers Park.

The Rovers boss lost Joshua Honohan, Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke and Roberto Lopes from his team seven days earlier, with the latter suspended. Sean Hoare remains on the injured list and Jack Byrne played no part either.

With their defence badly depleted, Bradley deployed midfielders Markus Poom and Darragh Nugent either side of last man standing Lee Grace. Teenager Cory O'Sullivan made a full league debut at left wing-back too as Rovers bore a very unfamiliar look altogether.

If their defence was considered a cause for concern, their attack remained potent. Aaron Greene, Johnny Kenny and Graham Burke made up their frontline and all three played significant parts in securing the points. The latter two scored both Hoops goals.

On an evening where Shelbourne and Derry unexpectedly dropped points, Rovers overcoming their Boyneside hoodoo was welcome. They had not won at the old ground in four previous visits. This was the perfect time to put that right.

It had not looked altogether likely before two goals early in the second half won the game.

Aaron McEneff, making his first league start of the season, shot narrowly over from range. It was a sweetly struck shot that Andrew Wogan might have struggled to deal with had it been on target.

The visitors to their credit were finding joy down the flanks, if clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by.

Greene attacked down Drogheda’s right at will, while Neil Farrugia’s delivered two cutbacks from the byline on the opposite side.

Drogheda were competitive in the first half as they were in