Shels ease past 10-man Drogs to lift President's Cup

Shelbourne 2-0 Drogheda United

Shelbourne kick-started their 2025 with another piece of silverware as they swatted aside ten-man Drogheda United in the President's Cup at Tolka Park.

The real business starts next week when Shels begin their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division defence at home to Derry City, but Damien Duff's men looked fit and hungry in an accomplished performance.

This season's curtain-raiser between the reigning league champions and the FAI Cup holders was, ultimately, a mismatch.

Drogheda, badly missing the injured Douglas James-Taylor and Elicha Ahui, struggled to lay a glove on opponents who were typically organised and aggressive.

New arrival Mipo Odubeko and Sean Boyd had Shels two goals to the good by the break before a moment of Luke Dennison madness early in the second half saw him red-carded for handling the ball outside the area. Any hope the Drogs had evaporated at the point, as Shels comfortably closed it out to start the new year with a trophy.

Duff spent the week talking up the significance of this game – "there's silverware at stake" - and his side had an intensity from the get-go.

Former Republic of Ireland Under-21 attacker Odubeko only needed ten seconds to rattle the bones of Andrew Quinn with a meaty challenge on the touchline, as Duff's men owned the ball in the opening exchanges.

Sean Gannon stung Luke Dennison’s palms after intricate build-up play on the fringes of the area; Ali Coote’s low centre forced Quinn into a crucial interception; then Aaron Harper Bailey had to crane his neck to nod a deep Harry Wood free-kick to safety.

Odubeko – super sharp all night – had Dennison scampering after his low shot took a wicked deflection off a Drogheda man, the American keeper adjusting his