Social Items

TPQ
Anthony McIntyre ⚽ There had been a sense of anticipation around the town which saw interest flare up as semi final day approached


The possibility of Drogheda United playing at the Aviva in the final of the Irish Cup for the first time since 2013 was on a lot of lips. Even as we stood on a Gaza solidarity vigil on the Bridge of Peace on Friday evening, the conversation drifted to today's game.  

Once the Drogs had seen off Athlone in the quarter finals, fans started to dream. What had been a difficult season has witnessed a turnaround in fortunes. A team that at one point looked destined for lower division football next season now finds itself in a cup final and on the cusp of a play off. Nothing flat to the end of this season. 

The Drogs landed on their feet in the draw for the semis, pitched at home against Wexford, their path to the Aviva a seemingly easier one than what the other two semi finalists had to navigate, Bohemians and Derry. On paper it should have been plain sailing. Wexford are a Division One side whereas Drogheda are in the top tier. Yet the difference between the bottom teams of the Premiership and the top teams of Division One is never that great and offers no grounds for complacency. That much was evident from today's battle at Weavers.

We arrived a good hour before kick off. The match was a sell out and the club had called for fans to turn up early. Joanna Byrne of the Drogheda United board of directors appealed to fans not to contact her about tickets as sold out means sold out. There were simply no tickets available, so keen was the interest in this game. Fortunately, as season ticket holders, myself and Paddy can avail of the early bird offer so our tickets were secure from the minute they went on sale. 

This time we pulled the four of us together. On the way over in the car we were confident that the Drogs could pull it off. So engrossed in conversation with Paddy was I that for once I forgot to ask J for a prediction. Ronan was absorbed by whatever was happening on his phone so was pretty stum for the journey.


As far as cup semi finals go this was value for money: a five goal thriller which saw the initiative move one way and then the other as the game progressed. 

Drogheda started nervy. The normally assured Ryan Brennan gave the ball away twice in the first six minutes, rushing his passes. It put the crowd on edge: the captain needs to believe in order to stamp his authority on the game. For the first twenty minutes the Drogs could not get into their stride and the best of the chances were falling the way of the visitors. 

When Frantz Pierrot pulled up and failed to pursue a kick out from the keeper, the red light was flashing. Not much later he made way for Adam Foley. That didn't trouble us greatly despite the big Haitian's demolition of Derry last week. Adam Foley brings a blend of technique and wily experience. While Kevin Doherty was the first to admit it was not an inspired substitution, Pierrot's injury making it inevitable, the impact Foley had on the game was decisive, first equalising early in the second half and scoring the crucial winner in the 92nd minute. 

Prior to the score opening the best effort on goal was a strong header from Ryan Brennan which brought out a save to match from the Wexford keeper. But within minutes the Drogs were behind, leaving too much space on their right which was exploited to the max by the yellow hunting pack, culminating in a fine finish from Aaron Dobbs three minutes before the break. The air seemed to go out of the home support like a deflated balloon, with Paddy observing that all was not going according to the script. When Ryan Brennan uncharacteristically ballooned his free kick well over the bar, the Aviva started to recede into the distance.

The Drogs came out in the second half a much different side than went in for the break. They ratcheted up the pressure, putting the visitors on the backfoot. There was a growing confidence that the Drogs would first find their feet, then the net. Level in the 64th minute through Adam Foley, ahead in the 76th courtesy of a sublimely directed header from Douglas James Taylor, things were looking up . . . then the iceberg appeared, halting the titanic journey the entire Drogs support base felt we had embarked upon.  Aaron Dobbs somehow managed to fumble the ball over the Drogheda goal line. Heads dropped, extra time loomed and a penalty shootout beckoned. The Drogs were having none of it. Ryan Brennan's steely leadership galvanised the claret and blue to make one last push in the 92nd minute. Game over. Just minutes before, it was heart in mouth time as the home side's vulnerability on the keeper's right almost allowed Wexford to steal it but for a fine save by Luke Dennison. 

So delighted was I when the game ended that I clasped the guy to my left despite him pounding my ear throughout the entire ninety plus minutes. He was on first name terms with the players as he urged them on. Problem is not one of them heard him, just me. Ronan, he just took off shortly after half time and fell in with the Ultras which at least allowed me to put the distance of one seat between me and the loudest fan in Weavers.  

The Drogs didn't play their best football but they still ground out a win. Which is what it is all about: substance over style. Wexford were no pushovers and the guy to my left, when he stopped howling instructions to the players for a few seconds, told me he didn't fancy facing them in the play off. They gave their all and in an ideal world both sides should have taken something from the game. But cup matches are a zero sum affair, producing only one winner and one loser.  

Wexford on the basis of a gutsy performance this afternoon are deserving of Premier League status, just not at the expense of the Drogs. Sympathy doesn't extend quite that far.


At the end there was a pitch celebration. A pitch invasion has a sinister tone to it which as a description would not be fair to the youngsters who mobbed the victorious players on the final whistle. It was their day, and fans and players alike bonded as they weaved together as one on the turf of Weavers Park.

The Aviva awaits the arrival of the sea of claret and blue to face Derry next month. Should it happen, even a cold November Rain will not dampen the spirits of the travelling phalanx ready to conjure up historical parallels by mounting another siege of Derry. 

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Drogs ⚽ Wexford ⚽ Aviva

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ There had been a sense of anticipation around the town which saw interest flare up as semi final day approached


The possibility of Drogheda United playing at the Aviva in the final of the Irish Cup for the first time since 2013 was on a lot of lips. Even as we stood on a Gaza solidarity vigil on the Bridge of Peace on Friday evening, the conversation drifted to today's game.  

Once the Drogs had seen off Athlone in the quarter finals, fans started to dream. What had been a difficult season has witnessed a turnaround in fortunes. A team that at one point looked destined for lower division football next season now finds itself in a cup final and on the cusp of a play off. Nothing flat to the end of this season. 

The Drogs landed on their feet in the draw for the semis, pitched at home against Wexford, their path to the Aviva a seemingly easier one than what the other two semi finalists had to navigate, Bohemians and Derry. On paper it should have been plain sailing. Wexford are a Division One side whereas Drogheda are in the top tier. Yet the difference between the bottom teams of the Premiership and the top teams of Division One is never that great and offers no grounds for complacency. That much was evident from today's battle at Weavers.

We arrived a good hour before kick off. The match was a sell out and the club had called for fans to turn up early. Joanna Byrne of the Drogheda United board of directors appealed to fans not to contact her about tickets as sold out means sold out. There were simply no tickets available, so keen was the interest in this game. Fortunately, as season ticket holders, myself and Paddy can avail of the early bird offer so our tickets were secure from the minute they went on sale. 

This time we pulled the four of us together. On the way over in the car we were confident that the Drogs could pull it off. So engrossed in conversation with Paddy was I that for once I forgot to ask J for a prediction. Ronan was absorbed by whatever was happening on his phone so was pretty stum for the journey.


As far as cup semi finals go this was value for money: a five goal thriller which saw the initiative move one way and then the other as the game progressed. 

Drogheda started nervy. The normally assured Ryan Brennan gave the ball away twice in the first six minutes, rushing his passes. It put the crowd on edge: the captain needs to believe in order to stamp his authority on the game. For the first twenty minutes the Drogs could not get into their stride and the best of the chances were falling the way of the visitors. 

When Frantz Pierrot pulled up and failed to pursue a kick out from the keeper, the red light was flashing. Not much later he made way for Adam Foley. That didn't trouble us greatly despite the big Haitian's demolition of Derry last week. Adam Foley brings a blend of technique and wily experience. While Kevin Doherty was the first to admit it was not an inspired substitution, Pierrot's injury making it inevitable, the impact Foley had on the game was decisive, first equalising early in the second half and scoring the crucial winner in the 92nd minute. 

Prior to the score opening the best effort on goal was a strong header from Ryan Brennan which brought out a save to match from the Wexford keeper. But within minutes the Drogs were behind, leaving too much space on their right which was exploited to the max by the yellow hunting pack, culminating in a fine finish from Aaron Dobbs three minutes before the break. The air seemed to go out of the home support like a deflated balloon, with Paddy observing that all was not going according to the script. When Ryan Brennan uncharacteristically ballooned his free kick well over the bar, the Aviva started to recede into the distance.

The Drogs came out in the second half a much different side than went in for the break. They ratcheted up the pressure, putting the visitors on the backfoot. There was a growing confidence that the Drogs would first find their feet, then the net. Level in the 64th minute through Adam Foley, ahead in the 76th courtesy of a sublimely directed header from Douglas James Taylor, things were looking up . . . then the iceberg appeared, halting the titanic journey the entire Drogs support base felt we had embarked upon.  Aaron Dobbs somehow managed to fumble the ball over the Drogheda goal line. Heads dropped, extra time loomed and a penalty shootout beckoned. The Drogs were having none of it. Ryan Brennan's steely leadership galvanised the claret and blue to make one last push in the 92nd minute. Game over. Just minutes before, it was heart in mouth time as the home side's vulnerability on the keeper's right almost allowed Wexford to steal it but for a fine save by Luke Dennison. 

So delighted was I when the game ended that I clasped the guy to my left despite him pounding my ear throughout the entire ninety plus minutes. He was on first name terms with the players as he urged them on. Problem is not one of them heard him, just me. Ronan, he just took off shortly after half time and fell in with the Ultras which at least allowed me to put the distance of one seat between me and the loudest fan in Weavers.  

The Drogs didn't play their best football but they still ground out a win. Which is what it is all about: substance over style. Wexford were no pushovers and the guy to my left, when he stopped howling instructions to the players for a few seconds, told me he didn't fancy facing them in the play off. They gave their all and in an ideal world both sides should have taken something from the game. But cup matches are a zero sum affair, producing only one winner and one loser.  

Wexford on the basis of a gutsy performance this afternoon are deserving of Premier League status, just not at the expense of the Drogs. Sympathy doesn't extend quite that far.


At the end there was a pitch celebration. A pitch invasion has a sinister tone to it which as a description would not be fair to the youngsters who mobbed the victorious players on the final whistle. It was their day, and fans and players alike bonded as they weaved together as one on the turf of Weavers Park.

The Aviva awaits the arrival of the sea of claret and blue to face Derry next month. Should it happen, even a cold November Rain will not dampen the spirits of the travelling phalanx ready to conjure up historical parallels by mounting another siege of Derry. 

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Anthony McIntyre Drogheda United Soccer

No comments

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)