Drogs ⚽ Hoops ⚽ Dismal

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ As difficult as it appeared to achieve, there was no doubt in the car on the way over that the Drogs needed to win this one.

They failed to, the third match in a row that they have suffered defeat. The graffiti is on the wall, scrawled by Jeremiah with his penchant for doom.

Paddy made the point to me early into the game that if Rovers scored, then the floodgates could open and Drogheda would be unable to close them. Paddy knows more than the average punter about the tactics and strategy involved in soccer so he quickly assessed the state of play and did not give the Weaver men a clean bill of health.

Shamrock Rovers might have brought an under strength side to Weaver Park but as is their norm, they did bring a good crowd with them, who have remained loyal despite the season not being up to the high standards they are more familiar with. Like most Dublin sides, when travelling, they bring the Public Order Unit with it but games have been hassle free and it is doubtful that the unit is needed. It seems more of a just-in-case approach. But the thought did cross my mind that it would be better off employed at Direct Provision Centres rather than at soccer matches. Flares are the worst thing that get thrown at games of football whereas petrol bombs are hurled at the defenceless by thugs who seem to lead a charmed life when it comes to being regarded as persons of interest to An Garda. A Public Order Unit where there is no disorder, and no Public Order Unit where there is disorder, seems to be straight out of the Boris Johnson handbook for governing.

As the game approached the half way mark and my hip flask of Slane Whiskey did the same, the shouts of the Drogheda Ultras began to get more strident. Anger was creeping in after a string of seemingly poor decisions from the referee. Yet, the Drogs had settled a bit and had not conceded, remaining on level terms as the players made their way to the dressing room but probably not a dressing down.

If that prompted the stirring of a confidence, it was to be short lived. Less than two minutes after the restart a well delivered through ball split the home defence, allowing Aaron Kenny to place his shot wide of the keeper and into the net. Four minutes later Graham Burke curled the most exquisite of efforts past Andrew Wogan in the Drogheda goal. Game over. Despite two headed efforts from the home side as they tried to rally, they were unable to put the ball through the hoops.

Paddy had speculated as we drove over to the game that if the Drogs could only pull ahead of Sligo, they might yet escape the play off. That too slipped away with a great win by the Bit O'Red away to leaders Shelbourne last night. It never rains but it pours. And Drogheda have to travel to Sligo's Showgrounds on Monday evening where their own fans will see more than a bit of red if it results in a fourth consecutive loss.

The difference in class in last night's clash can be seen from Rovers now having more than twice the points that Drogheda have. Right below Drogheda sit Dundalk who gained a valuable point away to Derry yesterday evening. Just two points behind, things are precarious. Too close to Dundalk for comfort, and too far from Sligo for reassurance, things are not looking up. And when the Drogs do look up they see eight teams above them.

As it stands, Kevin Doherty's side is staring into the abyss of lower division football next season. To avoid that doomsday scenario the team needs to be winning its home fixtures and drawing away. The current trend shows that the Drogs are losing both home and away. It does not require a mathematician to calculate the only outcome that can flow from that.

My son and myself are about to catch the train to Dublin to watch the Champion's League Final tonight in one of the city's pubs with Paddy and a few other friends. We expect the quality of soccer on display to be perched at a much higher notch than last night's game: we are into soccer stratosphere stuff at this level. No blame can be attached to local soccer for that huge gulf. No obscurantist billionaire sheiks milking the local game, yet. Whatever the outcome tonight, a victory to Real Madrid or Dortmund, there will be no disappointment to match that on the trudge back to the car after last night's clash.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.