Drogheda (Cup)

In spite of the closeness of the scoreline, deserved win for Drogheda but a really pleasing performance from the Youths who rested about half of their usual starting XI, but still managed to be reasonably competitive for the duration of the tie. Big question prior to the game was who was going to start in the Wexford goalm as Graham was suspended and, due to the long-term injury to Cormac O'Brien, we haven't had a reserve keeper on the bench for a couple of months. Answer was Rocks, who usually plays wide left, but Brian DeSalvo in the programme notes said that he has a reasonable amount of GAA experience. Otherwise, it was a back four of CLarkey, Jamie, CJ and Jimmy, a midfield five of Shane, Eric, Crokey, Glenn and Deano with Glenn more advanced than the others and Tom up front on his own. Drogheda soon showed that they were a real threat up front in the air, particularly through Hynesy. Drogheda had two dangerous headers, one from a corner and one from a cross, in the first ten but both went just wide. Wexford then created a real chance when Deano did well down the left and his cross found Shane in space beyond the far post, whose first-time controlled volley had to be tipped round the post by Sava. Both sides then had good shhoting chances with a Drogheda volley from 30 out going just over and Crokey being set up just outside the box but shooting narrowly wide.

Midway through the half, Youths had the ball in the net when Sava had to make a good save when he pushed upwards a Youths effort, but as the ball came down he was impeded with the ball ending up in the back of the net but ruled out for a foul. Immediately, Drogheda scored, not surprisingly from the aerial route, when a cross from the right found Hynes in the clear and his stooping header gave Rocks no chance for 1-0 to the home side. Game died a bit thereafter with the only other chances before the break being a good cross from the right by Drogheda not finding a Drogheda attacker while Youths had two free-kicks from 30 yards or so but couldn't do much with either for 1-0 to the home side at half-time.

Sava's only mistake in the game happened right in the first minute of the second-half when he pushed out a free by Deano which bounced in front of him but it fell to a Drogheda defender who was happy to knock it away for a corner. After six, Hynes had another free heade which he again knocked just wide. After fifteen, Wexford were lucky to block a DRogheda effort on the goal-line with Rocks beaten. With twenty-five gone, Glenn was fouled just outside the box with a yellow for a Drogheda defender. Earlier, Cj had gone in for a tackle but it appeared that the ref. waved the card at Shane. With twelve to go, Gavin Brennan did brilliantly to send a cross which appeared to be gojng wide back into danger, but Hynesy knocked the ball into the ground rather than placing it into the empty net, and Rocks was able to push it away just before it dipped under the bar. With about ten to go, Shane Keegan brought on regular forwards, Danny and Joey, in place of Deano and Eric. Drogheda then had the ball in the net from a low cross from the right, but O'Brien's finish was ruled out from offside although it must have been tight. Wexford then had two reasonable chances to equalise, the first when Danny was set up about fifteen out, but it fell on his left and he miscued with a first-time effort. Wexford's last chance came from a corner which seemed to hit a Drogheda defender and could have gone anywhere. But it rolled parallel to the goal-line straight into Sava's hands and a final score of 1-0 to the home side.

Best for Wexford were the those getting rare starts such as Clarkey, Jimmy and Glenn who were well able to use the ball at times. Jamie and CJ played very well in the middle of the back four while the ball was in play but there was again a definite weakness in the air from the dead ball which has occurred before. Best for Drogheda were Gavin Brennan wide left, who has a really impressive first touch, and Hynesy up front. 1-0 to the home side at full-time.