Four goal thumping gives Foley a fright on chastening debut day
Drogheda United 0-4 Shelbourne; EA Sports League of Ireland Men's Under 20 Group 1; Drogheda Institute of Further Education; 05/04/25
Drogheda United equalled their biggest defeat at this age group in four years - and suffered a major blow to hopes of reaching the Elite Phase of the league competition - as Shelbourne put them to the sword on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Foley was taking charge of the Under 20s for the first since officially being named as the new Head Coach on Tuesday, replacing Gavin Fleming.
He and his coaches were all smiles and handshakes at kick-off and full of vocal encouragement for the most part but by the end, the occasional shouts of words of support were aimed solely at ensuring heads did not drop in light of a four-goal deficit.
The game was scoreless at half time and United had as many attempts at goal at the visitors, who had Luca Cailloce - brother of last season’s Drogs top goalscorer Killian in the defence.
The now-UCD forward was among those taking advantage of the more than agreeable weather conditions to watch for on from the pitchside bank at DIFE. One wonders what difference he might have made had he been in opposition to his brother this time.
Foley was able to call upon a strong starting XI for the visit of Lorcan Fitzgerald’s side. Captain Evan Haddock returned having missed last week’s win over Dundalk. So too did Scott Brady, Conall Cronin and Bridel Bosakani. All four had been in Cork with Kevin Doherty’s senior squad the night before.
Cian Cleary, Callum Bonner, Sean McGrath and Taylor Mooney dropped to the bench.
17-year-old goalkeeper Theo Hennessy was forced into a save just 22 seconds into the game, clawing away James Bailey’s poke towards goal.
United hit back and forced an opportunity of their own shortly after when they won the ball back high up the pitch, allowing Bosakani to cut inside onto his right foot and force goalkeeper Ali Topcu to save low at his near post with a well struck effort.
His strike partner Dare Kareem - fresh from more first team minutes against Waterford on Friday - drilled a ball across the face of goal but Bosakani wasn’t close enough to apply a touch. After some more proactive pressure high up the field from Scott Brady, the two strikers combined to release Cronin who won a corner.
Two successive corner kicks flew straight out of play as the home side failed to capitalise on opportunities to find Kareem or the equally dangerous Haddock in the area.
Shels, for their part, were seeing plenty of the ball but they were guilty of trying force the issue at times. Patience was being overlooked for eagerness.
Ethan Maher, operating in an unfamiliar position on the left side of Drogheda’s back three, stuck to his task well when Tyriek Sammy tested him for pace on the flank, conceding a corner in the end.
The visitors first chance of note fell to Aaron Moloney. His strike was on target but Hennessy dived to his left to firmly parry away from danger. Sammy had a shot blocked superbly by Luke Povall after the Reds worked the ball well down their left flank.
United’s only other sight of goal in the first half came when after a series of corners, Bosakani’s uncontrolled volley flew harmlessly over the bar and up into the sky blue backdrop of a gorgeous April day.
Playing in a 3-4-1-2 system, this was nothing particularly new from Drogheda’s outings already this term. What was noticeable however was the decision to move Sean McCarthy to wing back and he in particular was asked to push high at every opportunity.
One other change - consequential or not depending on your outlook - was a change in bench for United. Usually occupying the dugout located to the left as you enter the DIFE Astro cage, this time they were on the opposite side in a charge from before.
It mimics the setup at United Park, where Kevin Doherty and Daire Doyle prowl the right hand dugout, as you look out onto the pitch. Academy Director John Donohoe did say this week that Foley would ‘create an environment that replicates a first team dressing room.’
Shelbourne’s goals all arrived in 19 second half minutes as Drogheda capitulated. Moloney drilled a low shot into the net from the edge of the box just 90 seconds after the restart. There had been loud Shels appeals for a handball in the area moments earlier, waved away by referee Niall McLoughlin.
When Raymond Offor set Bailey away down the left channel, he was tracked diligently by Povall who held him up to allow Hennessy to retreat from no man’s land to the safety of his line. Shels worked it back to Sammy, however and he cut inside and curled a low shot beyond the young stopper.
The game was over as a contest when Offor’s thumping drive flashed past the goalkeeper just beyond the hour mark. In response, all Drogheda could muster was a McCarthy free kick which was blocked by a strong defensive wall.
Drogheda shipped their fourth when moments after being let down by a poor touch in the area, a low cross was flashed across the box which Sammy tapped in at the far post.
By that time, both teams had emptied their benches to hand minutes to as many players as possible. With Finn Harps dropping points against Dundalk, Drogheda remain in touch with the teams above them but a three point gap now to second place Shels is for from ideal for aspirations to reach the Elite Phase - if that is one.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Theo Hennessy; Luke Povall, Evan Haddock, Sean McCarthy; Ultan McLaughlin (Taylor Mooney, 54), Scott Brady (Cameron Feehan, 89), Harry O’Connor, Ethan Maher; Conall Cronin (Sean McGrath, 54) Bridel Bosakani (Cian Wilson, 68) Dare Kareem (Callum Bonner, 68).
SHELBOURNE: Ali Topcu; Aderinsola Adewale (F Coffey, 68), James Roche, Luca Cailloce (C Ryan, 78) Aaron Moloney, Gheorghe Mosneagu (D Murphy, 62), James Bailey, Tyriek Sammy (A Farrell, 78), Daniel Mare (S Cummins, 68), Taylor McCarthy, Raymond Offor.
REFEREE: Niall McLoughlin
*This is a free article, available to subscribers to our free plan. These articles will only be occasional so to read our premium articles and have access to our entire archive, be sure to subscribe.