Anthony McIntyre ⚽ The Drogs cruised through the opening game in their campaign to defend the FAI Cup they won last season.
There were no surprises, no giant killing by the minnows. Crumlin, from the Leinster Senior League, tried valiantly but in the end a superior Drogheda United was simply too strong for the battling Dublin side who went down to a high five blitz from the cup holders.
Despite the 5-0 thrashing, Crumlin's man of the match must go to Morgan Daly in goal whose efforts made sure the margin of victory was kept well away from double figures. One effort he blocked, from Drogs captain Ryan Brennan, would have won him plaudits had it been pulled off in the English Premier League. Unfortunately an injury late into the second half was enough to see him substituted. He might have left the field in pain but few could deny him the sense of pride that was his due.
The five of us, sober as judges (on that rare occasion when judges are sober) and anything but high, travelled over in Paddy's car. The usual three of myself, Paddy and Jay with Ronan and his girlfriend making up the quintet. The latter two are currently in Poland so I guess even last night's victory away to Bohemians in the league will be the furthest thing from their mind. It wasn't a difficult one for Jay to call - a routing by the Drogs although a fortnight on I don't remember the exact score line that he predicted, although I think he plumped for a five goal affair with the Drogs getting four of them.
In this one the home side were slow to get off the mark, leaving it almost until the stroke of half time before delivering a sucker punch from Conor Keeley to the midriff of the visitors. Prior to that Luke Dennison had to be on the alert as Reece Kavanagh and Calum Bridgeman constantly probed the Drogheda defensive line in search of something that might unlock the wall of claret and blue in front of them. If Crumlin thought after their first half performance that they could get a result from the game their hopes were deftly swept aside with a scorching strike from Thomas Oluwa, which found the top of the net, nudged there with the aid of a slight deflection. The fight went out of Crumlin after that like air out of a balloon. The Drogs were in control, moving the ball at their leisure. Josh Thomas (last night's hero at Dalymount Park) John O’Sullivan and Darragh Markey all helped complete the rout.
Despite the 5-0 thrashing, Crumlin's man of the match must go to Morgan Daly in goal whose efforts made sure the margin of victory was kept well away from double figures. One effort he blocked, from Drogs captain Ryan Brennan, would have won him plaudits had it been pulled off in the English Premier League. Unfortunately an injury late into the second half was enough to see him substituted. He might have left the field in pain but few could deny him the sense of pride that was his due.
I met Tony on the way out and commiserated with him on the death of his wife. A dedicated Drog, his loss was acknowledged in the minute prior to kickoff when the stadium stood in one minute silence in memory of Tracy.
The next round will be a different matter. Up against Derry at the Brandywell, the Candy Stripes will be burning for revenge, striving to reward their fans with payback for their Aviva final loss last year. If the Drogs make it through to the next round then the Aviva in November will start to look more than a remote possibility.
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