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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United's heavy defeat in Derry doesn't tell the full story
Everyone seems to have an opinion about Drogheda United's recent performances and which camp you're in depends on whether you're a glass half-empty or glass half-full character. Those who are giving out about negative tactics and berating players for all manner of 'mistakes' will justify their view by stating that the Boynesiders have won just once in their last six games and have slipped from first to fourth in the table. Taking a different view, though, the two defeats Drogheda have shipped in that time have been against the current top two teams and only the top two - Shamrock Rovers and Derry City - have taken more points than Kevin Doherty's men from the last three matches. The Drogs have suffered all manner of problems in recent weeks and yet they're hanging in there, still competing for a coveted European spot through the league as well as planning to make a strong defence of their FAI Cup crown. They weren't exactly down to the bare bones at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last Friday night, but there was little experience on the subs bench and a couple of the starters probably shouldn't have been involved at all given their current level of fitness. The opening half-hour didn't exactly set pulses racing as Derry probed without looking particularly dangerous, while Drogheda held their line and mounted a couple of promising attacks. Gavin Whyte sent one shot straight into the hands of visiting keeper Luke Dennison and a Sam Todd effort was blocked by Conor Keeley, but the Boynesiders' defence was eventually unlocked all too easily by a Derry corner kick. Michael Duffy played the set piece short, received the ball back and floated in a cross from the byeline that was headed home by Todd under no real pressure. The second goal arrived just three minutes later and was equally poor from a Drogheda perspective as Duffy got in behind the defence, evaded the outrushing Dennison and hooked the ball goal-wards. Andrew Quinn somehow got back to scoop the ball off the line, but none of his colleagues were on their toes to complete the clearance - indeed three of them just stood and watched - and Ronan Boyce was following up to divert the rebound to the net. At 2-0 Drogheda already had a mountain to climb, but 60 seconds later they had a great chance to haul themselves right back into the match when Aaron Harper-Bailey - making only his second start of the season - whipped a superb ball in behind the Derry defence for the on-rushing Thomas Oluwa, who bore down on goal, only to have his driven shot superbly parried by Brian Maher. A Carl Winchester goal on the stroke of half-time was ruled out for offside and the score remained at 2-0 for most of the second half, during which youngsters Dare Kareem, Scott Brady and Bridel Bosakani all saw game time and made useful contributions. Conor Keeley had a couple of efforts which failed to hit the target and Douglas James-Taylor had a shot blocked by Mark Connolly, but for the most part Derry were comfortable and they put the icing on the cake from their perspective with a third goal deep into stoppage time. Again Duffy was involved, taking an angled shot which Dennison blocked rather unconvincingly with his boot, and the rebound seemed to strike Danny Mullen on the shin before squirming over the goal-line. DERRY: Brian Maher 7; Ronan Boyce 7, Hayden Cann 7, Mark Connolly 7, Kevin Holt 7, Sam Todd 7; Gavin Whyte 8 (Danny Mullen 76, 7), Sadou Diallo 7 (Adam O'Reilly 63, 6), Carl Winchester 8 (Paul McMullan 76, 6), Michael Duffy 8; Liam Boyce 7 (Robbie Benson 75, 6). Subs not used: Shane Ferguson, Ciaron Harkin, Pat Hoban, Seaon Patton, Arlo Doherty. DROGHEDA: Luke Dennison 7; Andrew Quinn 7, Conor Keeley 7, Aaron Harper-Bailey 8; Owen Lambe 7, Ryan Brennan 6 (Scott Brady 55, 7), Luke Heeney 6, Conor Kane 7 (Kieran Cruise 55, 7); Shane Farrell 6 (Darragh Markey 60, 7); Douglas James-Taylor 7 (Bridel Bosakani 88), Thomas Oluwa 6 (Dare Kareem 60, 7). Subs not used: Zishim Bawa, Sean McCarthy, Evan Haddock, Jack Brady Attendance: 3,700
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke wins monthly honour for May
Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke who has been hugely instrumental in the Hoops charge back to the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table has won the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland POTM award for May. The Dubliner scored four goals and two assists as his form continues to improve over the half-way stage in the title race. He has revelled in his seven appearances over the month so much so that he outscored Drogheda United's Conor Keeley and third placed Tommy Lonergan of Waterford FC in the nationwide poll. Burke has won four league titles and one FAI Cup winners' medal (2019) and he was capped three times for Ireland in the summer of 2018 against France, USA and Poland. He scored his only goal against the Americans in Dublin and, in doing so, became the first home-based, goal-scorer since April, 1978 when Ray Treacy, also of Shamrock Rovers, netted for Ireland against Türkiye. "I haven't won this award for a long time (2018), but having said that, I am delighted to have won it for the month of May. I think it's just the third time I have won the soccer writers award and the last time was back in 2018 when I was capped at international level. "Our form at Rovers has been excellent – one defeat in nine and just three setbacks in all – we just go out and try to do what we do best. We know as a group what we are capable of and we have a system we play that works well for us. "The three defeats came early on at the start of the league campaign and off the back of a short pre-season and it took us a few weeks to get up to speed. We have been on a good run lately and we want to keep that going for a long as we can. The team have been performing well week in, week out and it's not just down to me," said Graham. Rovers who are going for five league titles in six seasons are currently the highest goalscorers and have the meanest defence in the top flight. "It's game-by-game with us but it's great to be top of the table at the half-way stage. Things can change quickly in this league, it's so competitive, but I can guarantee you, that we won't be getting carried away just yet," he added.
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kevin Doherty hails Drogheda Utd star as ‘best defender in League of Ireland' after late heroics against Waterford
KEVIN DOHERTY reckons Conor Keeley is the best defender in the League of Ireland right now. The 27-year-old's late, late goal rescued a point for the Drogs against summer break second in the Premier Division. 2 Conor Keeley scored Drogheda Utd's equaliser against Waterford Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 2 Kevin Doherty hailed him as one of the best defenders in the League of Ireland Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile And Doherty believes the Meath man is a class apart on current form. The United boss said: 'There were proper questions asked of us and we've come away with a point. 'It would have been easy for us to lie down but Conor Keeley, who is the best defender in the league at the minute in my view, comes up with a big goal. 'It's the fifth goal for him from centre-back. We're a decent side in second place going into the mid-season break and I'm not sure many would have predicted that. I know that for sure. Read More on League of Ireland 'We're really happy and we'll look forward to getting some freshness back.' While Doherty says he has a 'decent side' on his hands, Blues gaffer John Coleman believes he has the best footballing team and is aiming for Europe . Hitmen Tommy Lonergan and Pádraig Amond twice put them in front only for Warren Davis and then Keeley to peg them back. Coleman added: 'Football is a funny game because we've drawn 2-2. It feels to us like a loss and to them like a win. Most read in Sport 'I've been on the end of that many times. I'm more disappointed for my players because of how well we played — and it was two completely styles of football . 'I've nothing against the way they play. I'm not one of these people who turn their noses up on styles of football. Whatever is effective is effective. They are really good at what they do, I respect it a lot. Cork City fans watch League of Ireland clash against Dundalk in cinema 'We play a different style. We dominated the game for long periods , kept our shape, but maybe overplayed it a little bit in the second half. We pinned them back so they couldn't lay a glove on us until injury-time. 'We've defended set-plays and corners really well since I've been here. It's a cheap header for the first one and it's a ridiculous goal for the second. He's put it in from a yard with his feet. That's the disappointing thing. 'We're probably the best footballing side in the league at the minute and we've told the lads that if they don't think they can make Europe then don't come back after the break.'
Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Conor Keeley's late show seals point for Drogheda United as Waterford foiled at RSC
Conor Keeley rescued an unlikely share of the spoils for Drogheda United as Waterford FC's inability to defend set pieces came back to haunt them deep into second-half injury-time in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at the RSC.
Irish Examiner
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keeley clinches point for Drogs at Waterford
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division WATERFORD FC 2 DROGHEDA UNITED 2 Conor Keeley rescued an unlikely share of the spoils for Drogheda United as Waterford FC's inability to defend set pieces came back to haunt them deep into second-half injury-time in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at the RSC. After Blues skipper Padraig Amond thought that he had won the game with an 81st-minute finish, the visitors had the final laugh in added time when the central defender hammered home from close-range when he was left unmarked at the back post to meet a Darragh Markey corner-kick. The Waterford front three combined for the breakthrough goal on 19 minutes. Conan Noonan slipped the ball into the feet of Amond, who in turn played the perfectly weighted pass for Tommy Lonergan, who beat keeper Luke Dennison with a deflected effort off Elicha Ahui from 14 yards. Drogheda were level from a set piece at the other end four minutes later. Shane Farrell sent in a left-wing corner-kick into the centre of the penalty area, and Warren Davis powered a simple close-range header to the far corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan. Davis was twice denied in a bid to give his side the lead on 40 minutes when Shane Farrell whipped in another dangerous left-wing corner that saw Conor Keeley send the ball back into the six-yard box for the striker, but after Rowan McDonald blocked his initial effort, he hooked the rebound just over. John Coleman's side got their noses in front on 81 minutes when Grant Horton sent over a right-wing cross that saw Elicha Ahui clear to Dean McMenamy, who saw his goalbound effort touched home by Padraig Amond past Luke Dennison. The leveller came three minutes into added time from another set piece. Darragh Markey swung over a right-wing corner-kick to the back post, where the unchallenged Conor Keeley blasted high to the roof of the net from close-range before Elicha Ahui was sent off late on for a second yellow card. WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Olayinka (McMenamy 77), Glenfield (McCormack 85), White; Lonergan (Pouwels 88), Amond, Noonan. DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Lambe (Cruise 61), Keeley, Quinn, Ahui, Kane; Heeney, Markey, Farrell (Bawa 77); Davis, Taylor (Oluwa 53) Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin). Attendance: 2241
