Drogs ⚽ Sligo ⚽ Penalties

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ Fortuitously, the last time I watched Drogheda United battle it out with Sligo Rovers was also a cup game.

In the FAI Cup final of 2013 the Drogs lost to the Sligo men. Like last evening's game, that too saw a sending off.

Things can get fiery when these sides clash rather than meet. Something that was emphasized in the opening minutes by a display of Drogs determination to literally stomp their boot on the game and see Sligo progress no further than the first round. Emmanuel Adegboyega incurred a booking in the process which was worrying given the dependence by the Drogs on his precision tackling when, as so often happens, he is the last man standing. With a yellow card already on his back there was always the risk that his eagerness to dive in at the crucial moment would be put to the test. Fortunately, the Sligo forward line lacked any real penetrative power. They hit the bar after the Drogs edged in front but apart from the converted penalty that was about as much as bothered Drogheda all evening.

Making my customary rush out of a rain soaked Dublin, having visited a Sligo friend in hospital, I even cancelled coffee with my daughter to make the game. She was forgiving. Besides there must be better things for a 22 year old to do than hang out with their da during a work break! The purpose of rushing is to get home and fill the hip flask, this time with Templeton Rye before Paddy, my perennial companion at the games, arrives to pick me up. I always time the imbibing to perfection. As the last sip set my palate ablaze, Paddy just commented that I had put the final substitute on. Whereas he never sips any of my tipple, I invariably munch on his sweets. Last night he served up what is an irresistible delicacy to someone who salivates at liquorice.

Earlier, as the players warmed up and fans drifted into the ground I said to him that I didn't expect a large contingent from Sligo to turn out and cheer their side on. It is not the thirty mile jaunt up the road from Dublin. How wrong that proved to be. They almost filled their end of the stadium, their ultras in tow announcing their arrival with flares. Our ultras always seem much louder and appear more animated. I have to give it to them. That they manage for so long to sing, chant and pogo hop is a feat I don't quite understand. The stamina to perform in the stands seems even more demanding that that required for the field of play.

This time my son was not amongst them. He was at work. This was the first occasion since the defeat to Bohs that I had attended a match without him. Paddy's lad was there and was fortunate not to have missed what was arguably the second best game in the Weaver calendar this year, the victory over St Pat's in the league being hard to better.

In the end the difference was a penalty to overtake an earlier one by Sligo after a clumsy tackle in the box had sullied the Drogs dominance. Up until that point they had been playing like kings in their own castle. The match winner, Ryan Brennan, had also scored in the 2013 cup final against the same team. A penalty in real time rather than as part of a penalty shootout can always be regarded as a real goal.

Next week Sligo return to Weaver Park for a league match. We shall return as well; and leave, hopefully, with the sweet taste of victory displacing that of the firewater. A trade I'll gladly settle for.

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