Jack Moylan enjoyed the perfect end to his Shelbourne career as his two goals saw him finish joint-top goalscorer in the Premier Division – and keep Shelbourne in the European conversation until next week's FAI Cup final.
Damien Duff’s team were in deep trouble at half time, two goals down as Drogheda hit them twice through an Adam Foley brace.
The latter of those was a thing of beauty and a very late contender for goal of the season. It was some consolation on the night for Drogheda United who capitulated in the second half after Luke Heeney's sending off.
Will Jarvis and Paddy Barrett added goals as Shels did what they needed to do to ensure fourth spot in the league. Now their fate is out of their hands. If St Patrick’s Athletic win the cup next Sunday, Shels will be heading for the continent next summer in the UEFA Conference League.
That will play out in time. For now, Duff and his team can celebrate the end of a memorable league season which saw them rise two places in the table. Ahead of the first close season under their ownership, it is interesting times ahead for the Tolka Park outfit.
The same can be said for Drogheda. They stand on the verge of a takeover by US sports investment firm Trivela Group. A member vote takes place on Monday and representatives Ben Boycott and Wesley Hill were in the stands.
They were joined by Lincoln City duo Jez George and Liam Scully, keeping an eye on Moylan and perhaps others too. These clubs have developed a significant rivalry on and off the pitch over the last two seasons, owing much to Duff’s liking for stirring the pot at times.
That much was obvious, on the field and in the stands. Shels were given a reduced away allocation citing security concerns and the game, or at the least the opening 45 minutes, was a fiery affair.
Foley’s first arrived when he got the slightest touch to Rooney’s delivery from the left. The ball rolled across goal, hit the post and trickled in. His second goal was much more memorable. This time, Rooney’s free kick was only partially headed clear.
The striker’s first time volleyed finish was not the first goal of that quality he has produced this season. The striker flew across goal and offered Conor Kearns no hope.
His counterpart Andrew Wogan had already denied Will Jarvis in a one-on-one as Shels enjoyed a better opening spell. Yet they found themselves staring down the barrel of an ignominious defeat.
Luke Heeney’s second yellow four minutes after the restart helped. He received a second caution for a foul on Jarvis. Moylan had already halved the deficit with a smart finish moments earlier.
The game changed with the numerical advantage on Shels side. Jarvis curled in an equaliser minutes later and the Moylan showed goalscoring instinct to give his team the lead.
Everyone stopped expecting a foul to be given against Shane Farrell. No whistle came and Moylan screwed the ball past Wogan. Barrett, not liked in these parts given his Dundalk connections, completed the scoring with a header.
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Luke Heeney, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir, Aaron McNally (Jamie Egan, 76); Gary Deegan, Matthew O’Brien; Adam Foley (Darragh Noone, 66), Darragh Markey (Warren Davis, 66), Dayle Rooney; Kyle Robinson (Jarlath Jones, 52).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Tyreke Wilson, Paddy Barrett, Gavin Molloy, Shane Griffin (Luke Byrne, 84); JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle, Harry Wood (JR Wilson, 90+1); Shane Farrell (Evan Caffrey, 81), Jack Moylan, Will Jarvis (Jad Hakiki, 90+1).
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea
