Drogs ⚽ Cork ⚽ Canvassing

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ Second last home game of the season and Jay's confidence was not contagious. He predicted a 2-0 home win, I went for the draw. In the end he was closer than me.

On our way to the game we had an additional brace of passengers, Jay's buddy, Dominic, and my friend Joe from Cork. Last game he and I attended together was at Turner's Cross a couple of months back when a late goal in the last minute of time added on earned Cork a point and saw a furious row between the Drogs coach and a disappointed fan.

This time there were no sparks, but little sparkle either. Against a side already relegated, even with home advantage in their favour, the Drogs limped rather than romped to victory. A solitary goal gave the victory to the Louth side. Cork will not have left too disappointed. They have a FAI cup final to look forward to in a fortnight's time and would have seen the Sullivan and Lambe clash as a useful run out as part of their run it to the big day. We purchased tickets for it so it will be a big day out for us in the capital also: early start to enable us to make our way pub by pub to the Aviva in time for kick off., where we shall be hoping Rovers win for reasons explained below.

I met Joe at the train station after a long journey for him, before making the short trip to the Railway Bar for a couple of pints followed by a taxi home. The driver was Greek, with a good knowledge of soccer. Delayed in the traffic for what is normally a four minute ride, we swopped stories for twenty minutes about Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, with a few chip ins on Nicos Poulantzas, Syriza, the 1967 military coup and Golden Dawn. He seem amused to have passengers who had conversational knowledge of Greek soccer and politics.

Once in the house I topped up the hip flasks, before the two of us knocked back a swifter just as Paddy and the boys arrived. I had persuaded Joe to canvass outside the ground that evening ahead of the game. Coaxing him required no effort - a seasoned union stalwart, the mere sight of a Catherine Connolly flyer was enough to animate him. Bobby McCormack, my daily canvassing companion throughout the campaign would be covering the front gate so I reckoned there might be an advantage if we were to take the Windmill Road end where the Cork supporters would enter - Joe's accent might swing a vote or two. We got a good response handing out most of our flyers before making our way to Drogheda entrance. The welcome was mainly from Drogs fans, though, as it was almost a no-show for the travelling faithful, seeing it futile to expend time and energy on a dead rubber fixture.

Paddy had managed to hold onto two seats for us where we planted ourselves and quickly opened the hip flasks. They proved a good companion, helping to dull the senses to what was a dull affair on the pitch. It is frustrating that the Drogs don't seem to dominate these games, making a draw appear an inevitable outcome. That was avoided on this occasion on the stroke of half time when Josh Thomas, changed gear from his thirteenth minute miss and headed home.

That was the end of the scoring despite an own goal ruled offside coupled with a rasping shot from Dare Kareem that cracked against the post.

Joe left the ground disappointed, but I was happy to see the three points bagged as it increases the chances of European football next season. Another draw at Galway last week has raised questions about that. However, on Saturday in the final game of the season if the Drogs can maintain some of their recent form against Bohemians - four victories on the trot - in a must win match, Europe might be game on. The Drogs need a number of stars align to make that dream a reality. Not only must they take all three points on Friday, they are also banking on Shelbourne holding out against visitors Pat's at Tolka Park as well as seeing Shamrock Rovers complete the league and cup double with a win over Cork in the Final. The top three teams are guaranteed European soccer in 2026 but only one of the three on 51 points can make it into that coveted club.

Despite earlier misgivings about the season turning flat, it is going to the wire, having spiked in time for the closing game. Coach Kevin Doherty has said that the noise and colour from the fans could make all the difference. It will make some of it. The real difference will be made on the pitch where the team needs to be set up to attack and score goals. Another draw is useless.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.