Drogheda United can seal their first ever Premier Division title at home to Cork City next Friday, after cruising to victory over long-time league challengers Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park.
Leading striker Eamon Zayed scored both goals in a superb display by the Boynesiders, who now have a ten-point advantage over the Leesiders with just four games remaining.
The runaway league leaders made just one change from the side who beat Sligo Rovers the previous week, with Stuart Byrne returning in place of the injured Richie Baker, while Danny O’Connor dropped back into the Rovers defence to cover for the suspended Barry Ferguson.
Drogheda began like a team eager to conclude the title race at the earliest opportunity.
After only two minutes Eamon Zayed controlled Graham Gartland’s long pass and laid the ball into the path of Shane Robinson whose low shot was pushed away by Rovers keeper Barry Murphy.
Robinson was then picked out from a quick free kick by Paul Keegan and his low cross to the near post was booted off the line by a defender, before Gartland headed the resulting corner over the Rovers crossbar.
Rovers were rocking at the back, and Drogheda made them pay in the 17th minute.
Keegan slipped a pass into the feet of Zayed who turned Dean Lawrence all too easily and bore down on goal. The Boynesiders’ leading scorer let fly from 25 yards and Murphy failed to read the bounce of the ball, allowing it to spin off his right hand and into the net.
Three minutes later Zayed collected Guy Bates’ flick and went for goal from similar distance, but Murphy was able to hold on this time.
Rovers enjoyed their best spell in the middle portion of the half, Ger Rowe sending a header across goal and then back-heeling Derek McGill’s mishit effort just wide with Drogheda keeper Dan Connor stranded.
Still, the Boynesiders continued to create opportunities, notably in the final five minutes of the half when Bates tested Murphy from distance and then Ollie Cahill fired narrowly wide from Bates’ pass.
Shouts for a Rovers penalty at the start of the second half were rightly waved away by referee Alan Kelly when Dave Cassidy tumbled over Brian Shelley’s challenge.
And although left-back Robbie Clarke went close with two long-range drives, Drogheda always looked the more likely to add to their tally – and so it proved in the 62nd minute.
Once again Keegan rolled the ball to Bates and the former Newcastle striker chested into the path of Zayed whose slightly mis-hit shot beat Murphy at his near post.
Rovers now face a difficult task to lift themselves for their remaining games as their hopes of securing European fade.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, O’Brien, O’Connor, Lawrence, Clarke, Mulhall, McGill, Shields, Cassidy, Rowe, Purcell. Subs: Myler for Cassidy (60min), Tyrrell for McGill (75min).
Drogheda United: Connor, Shelley, Gavin, Gartland, Webb, Robinson, Byrne, Keegan, Cahill, Zayed, Bates. Subs: O’Keeffe for Bates (89min), Keddy for Cahill (90min).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
