Anthony McIntyre ⚽ They came. They saw. They wilted.
Wilton were hoping to do what had not been accomplished since 2021 when non-league Maynooth University Town in the same competition beat First Division Cobh Ramblers 3-2 to reach the quarter finals. It wasn't in the stars this time for the Cork based side from the Munster Senior League.
You have to feel sorry for the visitors this morning as they reflect on and recover from last night's heavy defeat at Weavers Park. Wilton United were simply not at the races in this third round Irish Cup clash.
Their coach Eddie McCarthy had said before the game that he had hoped the magic of the cup would result in a victory for his side. Unfortunately, for him and much to the delight of the Drogheda fans, the side from the Munster Senior League were unable to produce a monster performance. It was not to be a night for giant killers, just one where the giant ruthlessly took its opponent to pieces and spat out the bits it didn't want to swallow, leaving Wilton to swallow their pride.
Drogheda are now through to the quarter finals and they might hope for the magic of the cup to favour them, allowing a return to the Aviva after an absence of 11 years.
Eddie McCarthy was not wrong to appeal to the magic but as god said to Isaac when he complained about not winning the lotto again, you have to buy a ticket. Wilton simply did not field a side capable of competing and this was pretty much reflected in the scoreline, the largest deficit I have witnessed during my time attending Drogheda United games. A club record. The closest I have come to such a spectacle was in 2013 over a Longford Town outfit featuring Keith Gillespie, once of Manchester United and Newcastle, in the then EA Sports Cup. One reporter summed up that game concisely and without sentiment: 'Drogheda Utd were good and clinical in front of goal while Longford Town were dreadful and didn’t compete at all.'
Much the same can be said of Wilton who, just into their season, looked unfit and off the pace. Some of the players were carrying bellies which slowed them down when trying to chase a slick group of Drogs who passed their way though midfield and defence time out of number. The visitors for most of the game were parked in their own half but there was no blue bus blocking the goal, just a back line much like blue cheese, and as porous as. When they got into the Drogs' half it seemed they needed oxygen masks.
Just the three of us made the journey over in the car, Paddy, J and myself. Ronan preferred the pub with his mates, which at 19 has jewels to pluck that are not to be found in soccer stadia. They had all returned from Greece last week and the desire to wet the whistle has not yet been quenched. A friend told me to enjoy my hip flask but that no longer makes the journey. I'm on the Zeros until the November cup final. Earlier I had got my beard trimmed and hair cut by Dom Wilton in the excellent Green Man barber shop. Paddy quipped what chance two Wilton's in the one day! Dom at least took my hair, whereas Wilton FC left with nothing.
We took our seats closer to the Cross Lanes entrance which would provide us with a close view of the Wilton goal area in the second half. With two penalties converted by James-Taylor early into the game, I commented to Paddy that if Drogheda go too far ahead too early, they might take their foot off the pedal, and we would be denied a close up of scores in the second half. Fortunately it was not to be. Before twenty two minutes had passed James-Taylor had completed his hattrick, a feat emulated by Bridel Bosakani in the second half. The Drogs left the pitch at half time four up. Ryan Brennan, the saviour from Tallaght, adding to the scoreline.
We took our seats closer to the Cross Lanes entrance which would provide us with a close view of the Wilton goal area in the second half. With two penalties converted by James-Taylor early into the game, I commented to Paddy that if Drogheda go too far ahead too early, they might take their foot off the pedal, and we would be denied a close up of scores in the second half. Fortunately it was not to be. Before twenty two minutes had passed James-Taylor had completed his hattrick, a feat emulated by Bridel Bosakani in the second half. The Drogs left the pitch at half time four up. Ryan Brennan, the saviour from Tallaght, adding to the scoreline.
Just onto the pitch for the second half the Drogs continued much as they had started, with Frantz Pierrot and Andrew Quinn both netting goals before the Bosakani hattrick.
The Drogs simply overwhelmed the opposition. They were fitter and faster, better composed and more compact, immeasurably ahead tactically and more strategically adroit. Well in front by the time Gary Deegan came on to huge applause, his passion for an even greater scoreline was on full display when he tongue lashed recent acquisition from West Brom, Aaron Harper-Bailey, for not making the pass he had urged.
Wilton can be thankful for small mercies - no fans appear to have turned up to watch their implosion on a night where paradoxically their goalie could stake a claim to have been their best player. He alone prevented the Drogheda goal tally reaching double figures. Drogheda is a long way from a Cork home just to get a punishment beating.
For the older Drogs fans it became all a bit too predictable while the younger ones will leave feeling bloated on a goal-fest. On average the Drogs managed a goal every ten minutes. A rare event at Weavers Park or anywhere else in the Premier division.
Let's not be too harsh on Wilton. They don't play in the same rarified stratosphere where the Drogs battle week in week out. A nightmare that hopefully will not trouble them again. And they can take solace from the fact that they ply their trade many depths beneath Drogheda, unlike Bournemouth who while in the same league as Liverpool went down 9-0 two seasons ago at Anfield.
To the point, and fair analysis...
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