Shels ⚽ Drogs ⚽ Presidential

Anthony McIntyre ⚽It was our first outing of the 2025 season.

Photo @ The Journal

Our gang of four travelled to Tolka Park, Paddy at the wheel, to make up the four and half thousand fans that turned up on a chilly February evening to watch the President's Cup clash. Our last outing had been for the play-off victory over Bray Wanderers at Tallaght in November.

Jay broke with tradition and predicted a Shelbourne victory in the President's Cup. It would have been difficult to argue with him on that. Shelbourne are League Of Ireland champions, and on their home turf were never gonna be easy to beat. On the night that proved to be so.

Although billed as a friendly, Shels coach Damien Duff made the point “I think it’s down as a friendly but there’s silverware at stake.” Kevin Doherty while preferring to beat Pat's in next Friday's opening game of the 2025 league campaign, nevertheless acknowledged the growing importance of the President's Cup clash. With both coaches lacing the tone for the evening with gravitas, a hard fought contest duly followed, resulting in a number of bookings and a player sent off.

As the players made their way onto the pitch there was something of a flare up amongst the Drogheda supporters but the incandescence came from respect not rage. For a few short moments we were bathed in a reddish glow which made me think that surely somebody has to be able to set their hands on claret and blue flares!

The Drogs, fresh from last week's defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park in the Malone Cup, set about their task with resolve, holding their own up until the first of two easy goals was gifted to the home side close to the thirty minute mark. Standing right behind the Drogheda goal in the first half we had a ringside view of a backheeled ball agonisingly creeping across the line, putting the Shels in the lead, an advantage they never conceded from that point on. Minutes later that lead doubled.

Drogheda's best spell arguably came immediately after Luke Dennison was shown a card eight minutes into the second half. His transgression, a handball outside the box eight minutes into the second half, every bit as unnecessary as the the careless pass he tried to make which prompted him to seek redemption in a clear breach of the rules. As he left dishevelled, a Shels player rubbed it into him in what was little other than triumphalist provocation. Jack Brady was an able replacement, making an immediate save from the free kick awarded against the man he replaced, and keeping a clean sheet the remainder of the evening.

Tolka Park is a fine stadium but for the fact that visiting fans have to stand. Much like when we attend a game at the Bohs. Fortified by a hip flask I wasn't too concerned. Before the game started I met Anthony Kimmins on the terrace to pick up a couple of Drogs badges. Frequently at the games, he and I exchange opinions on the fortunes of the Drogs so I was pleased he remembered to hold onto badges for me. They were added to an ever weightier beanie.

On the night the Drogs were certainly weakened by the absence through injury of Douglas James Taylor, who made up one half of the successful strike force last year. The other half, Frantz Pierrot now plays his trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the back the energy and tenacity of Elicha Ahui was also sorely missed. With two players of such quality unavailable, their boots are not easily filled. Their eventual return will inject confidence into the side.

Two defeats in two games, but with no points at stake or serious silverware, the Drogs need not be too concerned. Now a full time outfit, the lessons they can take from both lost matches is that the first red card of the season should have been brandished to complacency.

Earlier today, myself and Paddy called at Weaver Park to collect season tickets. Some building work was going on so I wandered to the edge of the pitch in search of a club official, quelling any teenage urge that might have gripped me to run to the centre circle. Eventually, a workman located one for me. Season tickets secure, we are now ready to hunker down for a long hard campaign. It is unlikely to bring the excitement or tension of last season but the upside is that we don't expect the Drogs to be involved in another relegation battle. Yeah, it is great to win them but even greater not to be slogging it out in a dog eat dog race to avoid the bottom.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.