After four seasons away, Mark Doyle returned to Sullivan & Lambe Park with a goal to remind Drogheda United supporters just why he is among the club's greatest ever goalscorers.
Only club legends Declan 'Fabio’ O’Brien and Gel Martin have scored more goals in claret-and-blue than Doyle despite a 1,548 wait between his last and this, the second in a blistering 10-minute spell at the start of the game against Waterford.
Kevin Doherty’s side have begun this season like a side intent on making up for their European disappointment of last season. They sit top of the table after two rounds, albeit many clubs have yet to play twice yet.
Doherty was proved fully justified in making no changes to the side that started against Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park last week, despite substitute Jago Godden scoring their late winner.
He remained on the bench and watched on as United roared into a two-goal lead within 10 minutes.
Their 92nd minute winner out west on opening night had left supporters waiting and waiting for a breakthrough. There was no such issue on Boyneside, as Shane Farrell scored a stunning volley after just two minutes of play.
Conor Keeley’s header was itself headed off the line by Portuguese defender Benny Couto, but the ball fell kindly for Farrell who met it first time and expertly volleyed the dropping ball back towards goal. It found the top corner, leaving Stephen McMullan with no chance.
Inside 10 minutes, United were two goals to the good. Edwin Agbaje ran onto Thomas Oluwa’s low cross but when the ball squirmed away from him, Doyle assumed responsibility.
The returning hero scored the first goal of his second Drogheda United spell – his 51st for the club in total – to put Kevin Doherty’s side in total control.
Waterford, with seven-season Drogheda stalwart Luke Heeney in their ranks, took a long while to get going and had it all to do once Drogheda were ahead. They were clean sheet specialists last term and Padraig Amond, the Blues goalscoring talisman, hardly had a sniff.
Only Conor Carty’s shot – blocked superbly by Keeley – threatened the Drogheda goal in the first half.
The hosts looked more threatening after the break. Doyle should have scored his second, having jinked past two defenders on receipt of Brandon Kavanagh’s pass. McMullan had other ideas however.
Substitute Dare Kareem might have scored their third goal himself late on, but the bustling striker shot just wide of the upright. That arrived second after another replacement - Cian Barrett - blasted a 35-yard strike against the crossbar at the other end.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Leo Burney (James Bolger, 56), Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn; Edwin Agbaje, Shane Farrell (Jago Godden, 65), Ethan O’Brien, Conor Kane; Brandon Kavanagh; Mark Doyle, Thomas Oluwa (Dare Kareem, 78).
Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Luke Heeney, John Mahon, Hayden Cann, Benny Couto; Samuel Glenfield (Cian Barrett, 68), Evan McLaughlin (Trae Bailey Coyle, 68); Tommy Lonergan, Conan Noonan, Conor Carty (Jorgen Voilas, 63); Padraig Amond.
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd
