The league leaders and the champions could not be separated at Sullivan & Lambe Park as Sam Bone’s equaliser rescued a point for Shelbourne in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
The driving rain and lure of television coverage didn’t put anyone off from enjoying a pulsating clash at a sold-out Windmill Road venue as Drogheda United remained top of the table by night's end.
Both sets of supporters created at atmosphere befitting of a meeting of two of the country’s leading sides at this moment.
Making his first appearance in seven weeks, it looked set to be night to forget for the returning Bone. The Englishman had missed six games though injury but with Paddy Barrett and Lewis Temple also unavailable, his return was timely for Damien Duff.
He slipped to allow Thomas Oluwa in on goal during the build-up for Drogheda’s first, which was finished by Warren Davis.
Owen Lambe’s shot five minutes before the break then took a huge deflection off Bone which carried it beyond Conor Kearns. When it rains, it pours and Bone got drenched on a wet, wet evening by the Boyne.
Luck was not on his side but Drogheda, to their credit, twice capitalised.
Davis scored their first – his fifth in six games. Already having drawn attention from a number of English Championship sides, Drogheda fans may soon begin to fear they won’t hold onto him beyond the summer.
Davis is a Republic of Ireland Under-19 international and with form like this is making a convincing case to step up to Jim Crawford’s U-21 set-up sooner rather than later.
Drogheda were causing their own problems at the back in the first half as Shels were totally dominant.
When Luke Dennison failed to claim a cross from the left, Shels recycled the ball to their captain Mark Coyle, who fired in for 1-1. Once again, he was lining out at centre back with Paddy Barrett and Lewis Temple missing.
Drogheda are good with their backs against wall though and soon they were back in front.
Lambe’s shot didn’t look likely to trouble Kearns but when Bone stuck out his foot, it diverted the ball high into the net.
Bone would have his moment of redemption on 67 minutes, peeling off Conor Keeley at the back post to meet a corner from the left. It was his first goal for Shels and a very crucial one.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley, James Bolger; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell (Elicha Ahui, 86), Conor Kane; Darragh Markey (Luke Heeney, 58); Warren Davis (Kieran Cruise, 77), Thomas Oluwa (Zishim Bawa, 86).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Mark Coyle, Sam Bone, Kameron Ledwidge; Evan Caffrey, Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, James Norris (Rayhaan Tulloch, 80); Ellis Chapman, Harry Wood (Ali Coote, 71); Mipo Odubeko (Sean Boyd, 80).
Referee: Damien MacGraith
