Drogheda 0 Rovers 1

Hoops off to a flying start....

Stephen Rice
Rovers Captain

The Hoops Eircom League season was in its third minute when Ger O'Brien floated a free-kick into the area and the ball was headed back to Alan Murphy just inside the area and the former Galway player fired a shot into the top corner of the net to put the Hoops ahead. Rover played with confidence in the opening 10 minutes but Barry Murphy dived full length to save a shot from Robinson in the 11th minute. Rovers continued to play some good football and they matched the home side in a congested midfield area and looked to get Dessie Baker on the ball at every opportunity.

A Sean O'Connor corner in the 17th minute was met by Maguire at the back post and his header crashed off the post. Bakers free-kick just a minute later almost found Danny O'Corner at the back post.

A fabulous move in the 24th minute saw Rice and Murphy combine to set up Baker to side-foot the ball just inches wide. Rovers were still taking the game to the home side and Sean O'Connor tried his luck from outside the area but his shot went straight to the 'keeper. The impressive Ger O'Brien was called on to defend a Richie Baker shot in the 33rd minute as the Drogs started to make a mark on the game. O'Brien then made a vital interception just three minutes later to break up another attack.

Barry Ferguson then made a great defensive header in front of his own goal in the 39th minute and the home side had their best chance of the game in added on time when Keegan hit the cross-bar with a header.

The home side upped the pace in the second-half and forced a couple of corners in the 52nd minute but Barry Murphy was in command of his area. Although they had a lot of the ball the defending champions were finding it difficult to pierce the Hoops rearguard. Another couple of corners in quick succession in the 62nd minute saw Sean O'Connor make a good clearance before Murphy again commanded his area with a fine catch.

Rovers were now finding it difficult to hold on to possession and Barry Murphy was called on twice in a minute to race from his line to claim the ball just ahead of an attacker. Ferguson and Maguire were kept busy defending the long balls that were sent into the Hoops area as the game entered the closing minutes and Murphy brilliantly claimed everything that came his way.

On 88 minutes Robinson had a chance just inside the area but Murphy was there to parry away his shot. The final chance to equalise came in added on time when a hopeful ball into the area was met by Drogheda's number six but his looping header went over the cross-bar. The final whistle was greeted with much joy among the 500 strong Hoops support.

Barry Murphy commands his goalmouth

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Pat Flynn
4 Daragh Maguire
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Danny O'Connor
7 Eric McGill
8 Stephen Rice
9 Alan Murphy
10 Dessie Baker
11 Sean O'Connor


Substitutes:

13 Darren Stapleton 14 John Martin for Baker 86'
15 Eoin Doyle for Murphy 67'
16 Karl Coleman
17 Tadgh Purcell for SO'Connor 75'