The sign of a true fighter is an ability to get up when they know they can't. The Wizards of Weaver dragged themselves back up with a 2-1 victory over Bohemians on home turf on Monday night, placing Drogheda in 7th place with rivals Dundalk firmly planted three spots below at the bottom of the table after a crushing home defeat.
We were a bit out of kilter this time around. A Monday evening fixture just doesn't have that same lift. It seemed even more subdued by the absence of travelling fans, Bohs supporters banned over flares used at matches. Some of their number were launching them like a Stalin's organ at the cup final in November. Not a pleasant spectacle for those genuinely in the stadium for the soccer.
We arrived quite early as Paddy's son was to take part in a half time exhibition so had to be at the ground well ahead of kickoff. With time on our hands we headed off to the Windmill adjacent to the ground for a quick pint, mine of the alcoholic variety, before taking our seats. It was my first time in the bar. Its pleasant atmosphere and decorous lay out will undoubtedly tempt me back. It was a windswept night with frequent gusts catching the rain so even though we grabbed seats deeper into the stand than our normal, our legs were quite damp and chilled long before the kickoff. Luckily I had recently bought a dedicated coat for winter games which prevented any further dissipation of what little heat I managed to conserve. Aided by a hip flask of brandy to boot.
Prior to the kick off wreaths were laid on the pitch to the non-sound of a minute's silence in memory of Brendan Penrose, a kitman who had a long association with the club. The Ultras paid their own tribute to both him and lifelong Drogs supporter Mattie Kealey. Not a human voice could be heard.
For Bohs, it was a disappointing affair. No fans, no points just about sums up their fortunes. All flare no flair. While the Drogs were easily the better side their ability to turn control of the game into a clear victory was limited. The first goal came courtesy of a Bohs man who had the misfortune of heading the ball into his own net. There was a certain irony in that because the very reason that Bohs fans were prohibited from attending the game was that the flare throwers had scored an own goal as well - they hit their own player with the incendiary projectile ten days earlier while playing St Patrick's Athletic.
Own goals happen but Drogheda's second should never have got through the defence. A free kick from near enough the centre circle evaded everybody and ended up in the back of the Bohs net. Piss poor defending by the Dublin side. Keeper Kacper was certainly no grasper as he stood idly by while the goal-bound free kick drifted into the net. Paddy's son put up a more spirited fight between the sticks during the half time interlude. He certainly would have done more than gaze at a floated free, as if it were some exotic bird to be admired but not touched.
Four times last season Bohs had put the Drogs to the sword but this time they fell on their own. And with Dundalk thoroughly trounced up at Oriel Park by Sligo Rovers - a top flight home defeat unlike any other in my lifetime - it was a great climax to a day in which the Weaver men bought back the ground from the FAI. Booty that John Delaney didn't get to make off with.
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Glad to see the Drogs off the mark. How many and how recently have they won major trophies?
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