Drogs ⚽ Sligo ⚽ Poor Visibility

Anthony McIntyre ⚽The first home fixture of the season with few expecting a rerun of last year's 7-0 thrashing of the visitors.

This time Paddy and Jay were absent, being on holiday in hopefully better climes. Still, five of us made the short journey to what used to be Weavers Park on Friday evening, but is now known as Sullivan and Lambe Park: myself, Ronan - with the new additions of my wife, her brother and his wife both of whom have are staying with us while they visit Ireland. The Drogs did not disappoint.

I preferred the old name as the Wizards of Weaver comfortably rolled off the tongue. With the name change has come an additional 250 seats to cope with increasing interest in the local side. As was evident from the Aviva experiment last weekend where Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians between them managed to draw a crowd of thirty three thousand for a normal League of Ireland fixture, there is an appetite for the game that government should be considering in any future budget packages.

The Drogs put on a fine display to emerge 3-0 winners. Not as great a margin as last time but a comprehensive victory nonetheless. A great game to watch . . . the parts of it that we managed to see. Drogheda United's stadium is the only ground that I have been at in the country where the pitch perimeter is accessible to anybody who wants to stand at it which means the view of those in the first couple of rows is blocked. So when the lower seated stand to catch the action, the spectators above also have to stand, such is the domino effect.

One woman security officer did her best to move people away but as soon as she left they drifted back into position. For the second half one of the pitch side security team manged to clear the view. Still, on a couple of occasions we sounded like cantankerous grouches directly asking the view blockers to get out of the way.

Season ticket holders and the weekly ticket purchaser pay to watch a game, not watch the backs of those congregating at the side of the pitch. Security and the stewards should be doing a lot more to ensure fans can watch the games they pay to see. At most games kids stand along the pitch, their heads just about making it above the wall. They are not the problem, unless they stand on the wall, as they are too tiny to block the view. It is when adults and teens do the same that it becomes disruptive. How I longed to have a fire hose in my hand rather than a hip flask!

Everybody should be able to enjoy the spectacle at Sullivan and Lambe Park but none should be spoiling the enjoyment of others. Security and the stewards need to be on their game otherwise there is little point to them being there. The images indicate that when security does its job, it works.

The Drogs went in front in the first half with a goal by Josh Thomas which I was unable to see because of the blocked view. A further two goals in the second half saw them pick up four points from two games. Thanks to pitch side security, those two I did catch. They were finely executed endeavours. The first came from the sweet boot of Darragh Markey, so industrious and creative on the night; the second just as good from Luke Heeney who netted his first goal in almost five years. The hope is he has started as he means to go on.

Last week the Drogs held Pat's to a goalless draw in Richmond Park. As Pat's have to be strong contenders for the title this time out a draw on their home patch is not to be dismissed lightly. Even if it is the second outing in succession where the Bit O'Red, have conceded three goals, the absence of Douglas James-Taylor and Elicha Ahui from the home team still suggests that the current Kevin Doherty side has depth with reserves to draw upon when the going gets tough.

Nest week Galway visit Sullivan and Lambe Park. By then Paddy and Jay will have returned to the fold, hopefully to witness the Drogs emerging seven points to the good. Not bad for last season's part time strugglers who have made the switch to full time professionals.

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