Drogheda downed as Duff enjoys first win as Shels boss

Damien Duff enjoyed his first win as Shelbourne manager as second-half goals secured a 2-0 away win over Drogheda United.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

Dan Hawkins, the Welsh forward, and Mark Coyle struck early and late in the second period as Shels bounced back from last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers.

New United boss Kevin Doherty took charge of a match for the first time in almost six years, when he left Tolka Park after an 18-month stint in charge, but his side were very much second best on the night.

Duff was without Shane Griffin through injury, while Drogs handed competitive debuts to Evan Weir, Andrew Quinn, Dylan Grimes and Darragh Nugent, with another five new names were in reserve.

The opening stages were bereft of genuine quality in attack. Jack Moylan embarked on a run to the edge of the home area, muscling Andrew Quinn and Dane Massey out of the way en route, but he scuffed his shot harmlessly wide.

Chris Lyons’s shot was blocked after good work from Dylan Grimes as Drogheda responded.

The first action seen by either goalkeeper arrived when Colin McCabe sprang to his left to parry Luke Byrne’s curling effort.

The opener arrived shortly after the break when the ever-impressive Moylan supplied a cross for Hawkins to fire past the Drogheda shot-stopper.

The Welsh forward capitalised after a cheap giveaway left the hosts exposed facing back against their own goal.

Not content with sitting on the first goal of his reign, Duff replaced the ineffectual Dan Carr with Sean Boyd.

He couldn’t score but Coyle could. He broke away and showed his pace before finishing past McCabe right at the death.

Drogheda offered very little by way of response, bar Darragh Market’s late shot and two free kicks which didn’t unduly trouble Lewis Webb.

Drogh