Penalties settle inaugural Trivela Cup in Drogheda's favour
Drogheda United 1-1 Walsall (Drogheda win 4-3 on penalties), Friendly (Trivela Cup), United Park, 30/07/24
It fell to Cameron Feehan, making his debut first team appearance of any description - friendly or otherwise - to settle the shootout with Drog’s fifth and final spot kick. Andrew Wogan had saved two consecutive penalties to hand the hosts the impetus in the shootout. Earlier in the piece, Ronan Maher had cancelled out Douglas James-Taylor’s opener from 12 yards after Frantz Pierrot was fouled.
So, the inaugural Trivela Cup went to Drogheda United. It isn’t so much a cup as a trophy and a hefty one at that. The winners of the last three Jim Malone Cups and now a Trivela Cup to boot, claiming ultimately meaningless trophies is becoming Drogheda’s stock in trade.
That isn’t to denigrate what was a successful night for the club, for Walsall and their owners too for whom this felt like a celebration of their two years in the business of football club ownership. Perhaps we are seeing a new normal too. There are people who support clubs, those who support players and maybe soon, we’ll have fans who follow ownership groups and their portfolios.
There was Walsall merchandise aplenty on sale throughout the day in various spots around the town - at the Drogheda club shop, a live podcast recording at the Tommy Leddy Theatre and at the ground too. But also there were half and half Drogheda/Walsall scarves, specially made badges for the occasions featuring the crests of both teams and Saddlers wares were being scooped up not only by a few hundred visiting supporters but by the locals too. There were Drogheda supporters donning Walsall jerseys and hats.
It’s a brave new world and in it everyone’s friends. This did not feel like your average Drogheda United game. It wasn’t and not merely because it was a Tuesday night and it was one of the finest days of the year, weather wise. The main stand was filled with unfamiliar faces who stood on the pitch both before and after the game, talking selfies and making acquaintances.
Many Walsall sponsors and staff were in attendance, some with their families. Walsall supporters were dotted around Dublin city centre in the 24 hours build up to the game too. It had a real day out feel about it, for them at least. There was a decent crowd in United Park but it was noticeable that some regulars stayed away.
With Bohemians to come on Friday, only two players who started Friday night’s victory over Waterford began the game. They were James Bolger and Elicha Ahui and both were withdrawn at the break. While Wogan, Jack Keaney, Darragh Markey, Warren Davis, Adam Foley and Matthew O’Brien started, the standout team news was first tastes of senior action for wing backs Sam Case and Sean McCarthy, starting on the right and left respectively.
Manny Milongo and Ozase Irhue played 45 minutes each and Feehan, Harry O’Connor and Bridel Bosakani saw action too. The game itself was decent but largely forgettable. Evan Weir, lining out in Walsall black, played 90 minutes.
After Walsall worked it down the left hand side, Bolger took the ball off the head of striker Jamille Matt and Josh Gordon fired over with the goal gaping after Wogan had done well to deny Maher. United worked the ball well at times going forward but had little to show for their efforts in the first half. Referee Paul Norton waved appeals for a penalty away when Markey tumbled under a Priestley Farquharson challenge.
The second half was a more interesting watch. Foley lobbed an effort into the side netting ten minutes before centre back Harry Williams conceded the penalty. On-loan Walsall striker Douglas James-Taylor, who already has two spot kicks to his name in the league, produced a composed effort to send Sam Hornby the wrong way.
Farquharson almost snuck in an effort at the near post from a Walsall corner and moments later the defender then was struck by a goalbound header from a teammate in a let off for Drogheda.
Seconds prior to Maher’s leveller, Bosakani was slid in but his tame effort didn’t trouble the goalkeeper enough. Then Maher struck past Wogan to level the game. Keaney came close to winning it late in the day but Hornby produced a fine save to deny him. The offside flag denied James-Taylor a winner against his parent club in the final minute.
The Walsall supporters sang ‘We want our striker back’ at their Drogheda counterparts further down the stand on the Crosslanes side of the ground. Earlier, they had enamoured themselves to their hosts with a short rendition of ‘We all hate Dundalk’. It was all good fun.
Wogan saved from Charlie Lakin and Maher as Walsall failed to convert either of their first two spot kicks. For Drogheda, James-Taylor, Pierrot, Keaney and Feehan scored from 12 yards. Matty O’Brien’s penalty was finely struck but saved. It didn’t matter. In the grand scheme of things, with Bohs next on Friday, neither did this. It was a pleasant evening regardless.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Andrew Wogan; Elicha Ahui (Manny Milongo, 46), Jack Keaney, James Bolger (Osaze Irhue, 46); Sam Case (Douglas James-Taylor, 70), Matthew O’Brien, Darragh Markey (Cameron Feehan, 70), Sean McCarthy (Harry O’Connor, 76); Warren Davis (Bridel Bosakani, 80); Adam Foley (Aaron Harper-Bailey, 70), Killian Cailloce (Frantz Pierrot, 70).
WALSALL: Sam Hornby; David Okagbue (Harry Williams, 46), Priestley Farquharson, Evan Weir; Connor Barrett, Ryan Stirk (Oisin McEntee, 46), Ronan Maher, Jamie Jellis (Charlie Lakin, 46), Liam Gordon (Taylor Allen, 46); Jamille Matt (Dylan Thomas, 64), Josh Gordon.
REFEREE: Paul Norton