Massive Stat Attack

It's a Cup Final, an all out Massive Stat Attack from Karl Reilly for you....

It’s Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United in the final of the League Cup at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening. Rovers are fourth in the Premier Division while consistent Drogheda continue to defy the odds by sitting in the top two.

We have won nine consecutive games against Drogs, without defeat in a total of 20 since October 2007 but it is an even record when it comes to this particular trophy. Rovers won their only League Cup in 1976/77 when Mick Cooke was with the club but he didn’t play that day.

Rovers lost the next five finals in succession. Drogheda have made it to one final, where they were victorious in the 1983/84 competition. This game will go to extra time and penalties if necessary – the Hoops have scored just one goal in the last nine games that went to extra time, Stephen O’Donnell’s penalty in Belgrade.

Since 2009, Tom Connolly has refereed 17 Rovers games, including the FAI Cup Final defeat to Sligo two years ago. He has awarded Rovers four penalties (we missed three) and given none to the opposition. Connolly has shown red cards to four Rovers players, dismissing Chris Turner and Graham Gartland against Sligo this season and three from the opposition; Shelbourne’s Anto Murphy the most recent one.

This is Rovers’ second cup final at Tallaght this season, winning the Leinster Senior Cup against St. Pat’s CY earlier this month. Only Bohemians in 1974/75, 1978/79 and Dundalk in 1977/78 have won the League Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup in the same season.

In Drogheda’s FAI Cup Quarter Final replay to St. Pat’s last week, they conceded a last minute goal and went out on penalties. Rovers lost 2-1 to Shelbourne in Stephen Glass’ only match in the dugout. It is the fewest games of any Hoops boss in the history of the club but it’s still the second shortest reign behind Shay Keogh, who resigned after just two days in December 1973.

Brian Laws was appointed Director of Football on Monday and will take charge of the first team for the remaining six weeks of the season. The 50 year old had a distinguished playing career, scoring 31 goals in 510 league appearances with seven clubs in two decades.

Laws spent six seasons under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, winning two League Cups. He was with them at the time of the Hillsborough Disaster in the 1989 FA Cup Semi-Final, in which 96 fans lost their lives. In the re-scheduled fixture, Laws scored an own goal as Liverpool won 3-1.

The right back once played against Rovers, alongside Roy Keane in a 0-0 draw at the RDS on July 29, 1992. He managed Grimsby Town from 1994-96 in which there was a famous incident with Ivano Bonetti, Laws throwing a plate of chicken wings at the Italian after a game. He achieved two promotions with Scunthorpe United and left for the Shieffield Wednesday job in 2006.

Laws became the first Owls boss in 95 years to do the league double over neighbours Sheffield United. He left by mutual consent in December 2009 and took over at Premiership side Burnley the following month, who were his first club as an apprentice back in 1979. He hit a landmark of 700 league games as manager but Burnley lost 15 of their last 18 games and were relegated.

On December 29, 2010, with the Clarets in 9th place in the Championship and two points off the playoffs, he was sacked by chairman Brian Kilby. Laws is the first Englishman to manage Shamrock Rovers.

The only other Hoops manager who contested a trophy in his very first game in charge was Bob Fullam. Jimmy Dunne had left for Bohemians at the end of the previous season and responsibility for coaching the team fell to the ex-player, assisted by ‘Buller’ Byrne.

Dessie Westby scored four as Rovers defeated Drumcondra 5-3 in the President’s Cup on August 16, 1942 at Milltown. This was actually the second replay of the competition carried over from 1941/42, where there had been two draws, eight months apart. Dermot Keely won the President’s Cup in his second game at the helm in 1986.

League Cup Finals – Last 10

Sat, Sep 24, 2011 – Turner’s Cross – Cork City 0-1 Derry City (Zayed)

Sat, Sep 25, 2010 – The Showgrounds – Sligo Rovers 1-0 Monaghan Utd (Blinkhorn)

Sat, Sep 26, 2009 – RSC – Waterford Utd 1-3 Bohemians (Browne; Brennan 2 [1 pen], Fenn)

Sat, Sep 29, 2008 – Ferrycarrig Park – Wexford Youths 1-6 Derry City (Furlong; Morrow 3, McGinn 2, Deery)

Tue, Oct 09, 2007 – The Brandywell – Derry City 1-0 Bohemians (McHugh) AET

Mon, Sep 18, 2006 – The Brandywell – Derry City 0-0 Shelbourne AET, DERRY WON 3-0 ON PENS

Tue, Sep 20, 2005 – Belfield Park – UCD 1-2 Derry City (Byrne; Murphy, McWalter og)

Mon, Aug 30, 2004 – Flancare Park – Bohemians 1-2 Longford Town (Ryan pen; Dillon, Prunty)

Mon, Aug 25, 2003 – Richmond Park – St. Pat’s Ath 1-0 Longford Town (Freeman)

Thu, Apr 11, 2002 – The Brandywell – Derry City 1-0 Limerick (Coyle pen) AET, 2-2 ON AGG, LIMERICK WON 3-2 ON PENS

Sat, Apr 6, 2002 – Jackman Park – Limerick 2-1 Derry City (Foley, Whyte pen; Deery)

Cup Notes

The League Cup replaced the old League of Ireland Shield, which began in 1921 and briefly returned in 1983/84. Shamrock Rovers won that a record 18 times. Drogheda United were runners-up once, losing 5-0 to Dundalk in the final at Dalymount Park on October 28, 1971.

Derry City are the League Cup holders and they have won it more than any other club (10 times), four under Stephen Kenny in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2011. It is the second time in his career that he took a team to the final but lost his job shortly before the game, the other was Bohemians in 2004.

The northerners have also appeared in the most finals with 12. Dublin clubs have not won the League Cup that often, just seven times in total. There have been 38 finals in history; 12 were two legged affairs.

The only replay was in the 1974/75 final, so there have been a total of 51 games since Waterford beat Finn Harps 2-1 at Tolka Park on October 25, 1973.

Of the 26 single game finals, plus the replay, a team has had home advantage in every final since the move to summer football and 18 times in total. Out of 18, that team has won 10 in their own stadium, two in a penalty shootout.

They have lost three of the last four – Wexford, Waterford and Cork, who were all in the First Division at the time. The 1992/93 final was held at Harold’s Cross, St. Pat’s temporary home where they lost 2-0 to Limerick. Derry never lost at the Brandywell in three games but they did lose on penalties to Limerick when it had finished 2-2 on aggregate after extra time in 2002.

In two legged finals such as that, the home side in the second leg won four times out of twelve. Listed below are all the venues to hold single game finals.

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Tolka Park – 6

Dalymount Park – 4

Oriel Park – 3

The Brandywell – 3

Richmond Park – 2

Turner’s Cross – 2

Kilcohan Park – 1

Harold’s Cross – 1

Flancare Park – 1

Belfield Park – 1

Ferrycarrig Park – 1

RSC – 1

The Showgrounds – 1

Sponsors

Bass League Cup – 1975/1976 to 1978/79

Opel League Cup – 1986/87 to 1989/90

Bord Gáis League Cup – 1990/91/ to 1995/96

Harp Lager League Cup – 1996/97 to 1998/99

Eircom League Cup – 1999/00 to 2008

EA Sports Cup – 2009 to 2012

Around the World...

England – Began in 1960 – Manchester United 4 times – last in 2009/2010

Finland – Began in 1994 – HJK Helsinki 4 times – last in 1998

France – Began in 1995 – AS Saint-Etienne 0 times

Hong Kong – Began in 2000 – South China 3 times – last in 2010/11

Hungary – Began in 2007 – Ferencvaros 0 times

Iceland – Began in 1996 – KR Reykjavik 5 times – last in 2011/2012

Ireland – Began in 1973 – Shamrock Rovers 1 time – 1976/77

India – Began in 1977 – Dempo Sports Club 1 time – 2004

Israel – Began in 1984 – Macabbi Tel Aviv 3 times – last in 2008/09

Japan – Began in 1992 – Kashima Antlers 4 times – last in 2012

Korea Republic – Began in 1992 – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3 times – last in 2004

Northern Ireland – Began in 1986 – Linfield 9 times – last in 2007/08

Portugal – Began in 2007 – Benfica 4 times – last in 2011/12

Scotland – Began in 1947 – Rangers 27 times – last in 2010/11

Singapore – Began in 2007 – Singapore Armed Forces 0 times/Geyland United 0 times

South Africa – Began in 1982 – Kaizer Chiefs 8 times – last in 2010/11

Trinidad & Tobago – Began in 2000 – Defence Force 2 times – last in 2009

Turkey – Began in 1965 – Fenerbache 1 time/Galatasary 0 times – last in 1967

Wales – Began in 1992 – Barry Town 4 times – last in 1999/00

This is a list of how each country’s record league winners have performed in their League Cup. HJK Helsinki, Kashima Antlers, Linfield, Benfica, Rangers and Kaizer Chiefs have won the most while KR Reykjavik’s is the joint best in Iceland. KR, Kashima and Benfica are the holders.

Barry Town have not competed since their relegation nine years ago. Turkey’s Spor Toto Cup was revived this year and involves clubs in the bottom half of the table. There were only previous six editions from 1965-1970, so Ireland have the third longest running League Cup in the world.

There are another 13 former League Cups including the German one which ended in 2007; Bayern Munich had a record 6 wins.

The Road To Tallaght

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Apr 09 – Second Round – Deacy Park – SD Galway 0-2 Shamrock Rovers (McCabe 2 pens)

Jun 26 – Quarter Final – Richmond Park – St. Pat’s 1-1 Shamrock Rovers (Brennan) AET, WON 4-2 ON PENS

Aug 06 – Semi Final – Tallaght Stadium – Shamrock Rovers 4-1 Limerick (Gannon, Kilduff 2, Dennehy)

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DROGHEDA UNITED

Mar 26 – First Round – Lissywollen – Athlone 2-5 Drogheda (S Brennan 2, M O’Brien, Crowley, D O’Brien pen)

Apr 10 – Second Round – Hunky Dorys Park – Drogheda 1-1 Bohemians (Mulvenna) AET, WON 4-3 ON PENS

Jun 25 – Quarter Final – Hunky Dorys Park – Drogheda 1-1 Dundalk (Foley) AET, WON 3-2 ON PENS

Aug 06 – Semi Final – Hunky Dorys Park – Drogheda 2-1 Sligo (G Brennan, Mulvenna)

Rovers had a bye in the first round and won 2-0 in Galway with two first half penalties from Gary McCabe. In the last eight, we returned to the scene of last year’s elimination. Killian Brennan fired home a free kick but ex-Hoop Sean O’Connor equalised for St. Pat’s.

Once again it went to a penalty shootout but this time Rovers went through with Conor McCormack scoring the winner. Rovers were then handed a home tie for the first time in three years against Limerick FC, winning 4-1 in August. Sean Gannon gave the Hoops a half time lead.

Ciaran Kilduff, on his return from injury, bagged a brace and Billy Dennehy scored in injury time, after Jeffrey Judge had pulled one back for the visitors. This saw Rovers reach the League Cup final for the first time in 14 years.

Drogheda United won two penalty shootouts on their way here. They won comfortably at Athlone Stadium back in March, going 4-1 up at half time with goals from Sean Brennan (two, one free kick), Mark O’Brien and Paul Crowley.

Declan O’Brien scored a penalty while Athlone replied with goals from Brian Gill and Mark Sherlock. Then in the first of three successive home ties, Drogs edged out 2009 winners Bohemians.

Bohs took the early lead through Ryan McEvoy, only to see Drogheda level ten minutes later courtesy of Tiarnan Mulvenna. The game remained 1-1 after extra time and Mick Cooke’s side converted all their spot kicks, Feely and McEvoy missing for the opponents.

120 minutes failed to separate Drogheda and Dundalk in the Louth derby. Eric Foley scored a great free kick from 25 yards out but Mark Griffin levelled the scores with a second half volley. It was Griffin who missed the Lilywhites’ fourth penalty and then Gavin Brennan stepped up to slot home.

Drogheda beat league leaders Sligo Rovers 2-1 in the semi-finals. G Brennan and Mulvenna gave them a two goal advantage at the break. Sligo’s Lee Lynch scored on the hour but Drogheda held on to book their place at Tallaght Stadium.

The last time Drogheda and Sligo had met in the League Cup was also the Boynesiders’ last semi-final appearance. Under Steve Cotterill, the Bit O’Red won 3-2 at the Showgrounds on October 3, 1995.

Tallaght Stadium has now hosted the final of every domestic cup competition available to Shamrock Rovers – the FAI Cup in 2009, the 2012 League Cup, the 2011 Setanta Cup and the 2012 Leinster Senior Cup.

7 single game President’s Cups were staged at Milltown, in 1941/42, 1943/44, 1944/45, 1945/46, 1948/49, 1978/79, 1985/86 and Rovers won all of them except the second last one. The club also won the Tyler Cup at Glenmalure Park with a 1-0 win over Finn Harps on May 17, 1978.

Squads

Former manager Stephen Kenny used 24 different players in this competition. Reyaad Pieterse, Colin Hawkins, Conor Powell and Killian Brennan have started every game on the road to the final, while Gary O’Neill, Conor McCormack and Stephen Rice have played a part in all of them too.

Oscar Jansson, Pat Sullivan and Shane O’Connor are the only players to make league appearances but none in the League Cup this season. Pat Sullivan and Ken Oman are both suspended as a result of their red cards at Tolka Park.

Sully has not played a League Cup game since May 4, 2009, Cork City’s 1-1 draw with Wexford Youths at Turner’s Cross. His side lost a penalty shootout and he missed one of them.

Mick Cooke has used 23 individual players, with Eric Foley and Philip Hand starting all four games and Tiarnan Mulvenna involved in each round. Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien is their top scorer this season with 13 goals in all competitions and he has scored over 100 goals in his League of Ireland career.

Rovers have 6 players in their squad with League Cup winners’ medals – Graham Gartland (2004), Killian Brennan (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009), Ken Oman (2006, 2007 and 2009), Tommy Stewart (2008), Conor Powell (2009) and Gary McCabe (2010).

Brennan scored twice for Bohemians against Waterford in the final three years ago, one penalty and one free kick and he was sent off in extra-time for Derry City in 2006. Losing finalists are Stephen Rice (2004 and 2007), Colin Hawkins (2004 and 2006), Gary O’Neill (2006), Conor Powell (2007) and Stephen O’Donnell (2007).

Drogheda have one player who has won it in his career, Stephen Quigley with St. Pat’s Athletic in 2003. Brian Gannon lost in the 2005 final with UCD while Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon, Shane Grimes, Sean Brennan and Alan Byrne all played for Monaghan United under Mick Cooke in their 2010 defeat to Sligo.

Mick Cooke

Cooke, 18 years of age at the time, was outstanding in attack for Drogheda United against Shamrock Rovers in the President’s Cup on August 12, 1970, which is the only other cup final between the clubs in history.

He lashed home a great right-footed shot to make it 2-2 at half time. The underdogs then took the lead but a penalty from Damien Richardson three minutes into injury time gave the Hoops a rather fortunate 3-3 draw at Dalymount Park.

Rovers won the replay a week later at Tolka Park, with goals from Richardson (another pen), Mick Leech and Hughie Brophy. An inside left, Cooke scored 8 league goals in four seasons with Drogs and was their top scorer in 1972/73.

He played in both games of the 1971 FAI Cup Final as Drogheda lost in the replay to Limerick. They had sensationally knocked out Rovers 5-2 along the way that season, 22 year old amateur Pat Cullen scoring a hat-trick in their first ever win at Milltown.

Cooke moved to St. Pat’s in February 1974 and was an unused substitute in their FAI Cup Final defeat to Finn Harps in April. The Dubliner was signed by Mick Meagan at Rovers later that year, the man who had brought him to Drogheda as a teenager four years earlier.

He made his debut in the 2-0 defeat to Bohemians at Dalymount Park on November 24, 1974 and scored four league goals in his three seasons with the Hoops. He hit the crossbar as Rovers lost the 1975 Leinster Senior Cup Final Replay, 1-0 to Bohs at Tolka Park. He also won a penalty but Donal Murphy shot over the bar.

In November 1975, Cooke got a late equaliser as Rovers came from 2-0 down at half time to draw at Finn Harps. His playing career ended after spells with Bluebell United and Galway United and he was manager of the Ireland Women’s National Team from 1992 to 2000.

They had no stature on the footballing stage when he was first appointed but made great progress during his time in charge, reaching the third round of the European Championships.

Cooke led the U-17 girls to triumph in the Gothia Cup in 1995, beating Taiwan in the final; and, the following year, winning the Dana Cup with the U-18’s when defeating the State of Texas in the final in America.

One of his last games came against world champions USA in front of 35,000 spectators at the Foxboro Stadium, Massachusetts in September 1999. Shamrock Rovers players Paula O’Neill and Margaret Saurin were in the squad and several players became full-time professionals abroad, at clubs such as Arsenal.

He left in July 2000 to concentrate on his role as assistant manager of Shamrock Rovers. He was alongside Damien Richardson from 1999-2002 as the club finished League of Ireland runners-up and reached two FAI Cup semi-finals.

On September 15, 2003, Cooke was appointed manager of Monaghan United. They finished 11th, 11th, 9th, 9th, 8th, 6th, 5th and 3rd in the First Division in his eight seasons at Gortakeegan, losing a dramatic promotion playoff penalty shootout to Bray Wanderers in 2010.

He had never taken the club beyond the second round of the League Cup until 2010, beating Shelbourne and holders Bohemians on the way to their first senior cup final.

On September 24th in front of 3,000 fans at the Showgrounds, Matthew Blinkhorn’s 14th minute strike proved the difference for Sligo Rovers. In the FAI Cup, Monaghan suffered surprise defeats to non-league sides three times, to Skerries Town in 2003, Rockmount in 2004 and Wayside Celtic in 2008.

They were beaten 7-1 at home to Dundalk in 2005 and their best run was to the quarter-finals in 2010. He took over at Drogheda United shortly before the 2011 season kicked off and it was the second time in his career he replaced Bobby Browne, who had resigned from the Monaghan post a month prior in 2003.

In the space of two seasons, Cooke has taken a team in 9th place, on a run of 29 league games without a win to second place in the table, seven points clear of champions Shamrock Rovers and brought the club to their first League Cup Final in over 28 years.

In 11 games against the Hoops in his managerial career, the 62 year old has yet to taste a victory, losing 9 and drawing 2, both with Monaghan in 2006.

Rovers & Drogheda Finals

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Wednesday, October 6, 1976 – Dalymount Park – Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Sligo Rovers (Leech)

Thursday, March 22, 1979 – Dalymount Park – Bohemians 2-0 Shamrock Rovers

Friday, January 1, 1982 – Tolka Park – Athlone Town 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Thursday, January 1, 1987 – Dalymount Park – Dundalk 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Wednesday, October 21, 1987 – Turner’s Cross – Cork City 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Tuesday, December 8, 1998 – Tolka Park – Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Cork City (Mooney og)

Wednesday, December 30, 1998 – Turner’s Cross – Cork City 1-0 Shamrock Rovers     CORK WON 2-1 ON AGG

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DROGHEDA UNITED

Thursday, January 5, 1984 – Tolka Park – Drogheda United 3-1 Athlone Town (Dillon 2, Martin)

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The 1976 League Cup was divided into four groups of four. Rovers came out with a 100% record and without conceding a goal against Home Farm, Dundalk and Shelbourne, going on to beat Cobh Ramblers 3-0 in the semi-final.

Mick Leech had returned to the club that season after a 3 year spell with Waterford and Johnny Fullam was also signed by manager Sean Thomas. A good crowd of about 4,000 saw an entertaining final at Dalymount Park.

With a replay at the Showgrounds next Wednesday looming, a goal from a tremendous thirty-yard shot by Leech in the last minute won it for Rovers and it was his 250th goal in senior football. The line-up that day was: O’Neill, Doran, McNevin, Wyse, Synnott, Fullam, Leech, Conway, Meagan (Magee 70), Lyons, Gaffney.

This was Rovers’ first trophy in seven years and it was the 7th different competition Thomas had won with the club, having been manager from 1961-64 too. Leech’s strike remains the only ever League Cup Final goal scored by a Rovers player.

In 1979, two goals from Turlough O’Connor, one of them a penalty saw Bohemians take the cup at their own ground. An 18 year old Mick Byrne made his LOI debut for Bohs in this game. John Giles missed it through injury while Ray Treacy was suspended.

On New Year’s Day 1982, former Rovers keeper Mick Smyth, now 24 years in the game, kept the Hoops at bay. Rovers had dominated the first half and missed three good chances. Dominick Fitzpatrick got the only goal of the game from a corner in the 48th minute and Alan O’Neill saved an 89th minute penalty from Athlone’s Michael O’Connor. 7000 in attendance at Tolka.

Rovers missed out on the treble in the last season at Milltown. Turlough O’Connor got the better of us for the third straight time with his third different club, this time Dundalk. A Martin Murray penalty separated the sides, controversially awarded for Noel Larkin’s foul on Tom McNulty in the 39th minute.

John Glynn, current manager of Mervue United, made his debut for Rovers that day at age 21. He was Galway’s former top goalscorer and had just returned from a scholarship course in the US, signing on a short-term contract. He was a striker but Dermot Keely played him on the left side of midfield. The finals of the FAI Cup and League Cup have had the same opponents in one season twice in history; Rovers vs Dundalk in 1986/87 and St. Pat’s vs Longford in 2003.

In October 1987, Rovers were beaten 1-0 at Turner’s Cross. Cork City’s Kieran Myers scored 13 minutes from the end with a glancing header. 48 hours earlier Dermot Keely, age 31, had announced his retirement because of a recurring knee injury. Pat Byrne was also injured for the game and Noel Larkin could not get time off work.

The Rebels defeated us again in December 1998. Terry Palmer came into centre-midfield to replace the out of form Billy Woods while Pat Morley was cup tied for Cork. Rovers had the lead within ten minutes.

Marc Kenny collected a throw in, sent in a cross close to goal and goalkeeper Noel Mooney, expecting the ball to hit the post, palmed it into his own net. Cork took over in the second half and equalised on the hour through Brian Barry-Murphy’s first time shot from the edge of the box.

Both Mooney and Tony O’Dowd made crucial saves in the game. The first leg was enthralling but the second was disappointing in front of 8,000 fans. Noel Hartigan crashed home a left-footed volley in the 37th minute and O’Dowd was sent off in the 57th minute.

He dropped to the ground to save a long-range shot and then raised his foot, catching John Caulfield on the foot as the centre forward stood over him. The referee interpreted it as “violent conduct”.

Substitute Robbie Horgan faced the penalty but Kelvin Flanagan fired it against the upright, where the ball bounced to safety. Tony Cousins nearly forced the game into extra time late on but he was denied by Mooney.

Drogheda’s historic victory was in January 1984. They had embraced senior status in 1963 but had yet to win a trophy, losing two FAI Cup Finals and one League of Ireland Shield, President’s Cup, Tyler Cup and Leinster Senior Cup Final each.

Their opponents were the holders Athlone Town who had won three of the last four League Cups under Turlough O’Connor and the prize money up for grabs was £1000.

English imports Stuart Parker and Jackie Gallagher would make an important contribution; Parker had signed just four days before the final while Gallagher recovered from an ankle injury. Full back Terry Byrne went off in the 20th minute with a suspected fractured arm and Parker slotted in on his debut.

Player-manager Tony Macken was at left back, he was assistant manager to Ray Treacy when Rovers won the league in 1993/94. Paddy Dillon scored a chip shot in the 31st minute and Gerry Martin doubled their lead in the 77th. Dillon added a third with six minutes remaining before Roddy Collins pulled one back right at the end.

The team was: Flynn, Byrne (Murphy 20), Bradley, Flanagan, Macken, Martin, Murray, Quinlan, Parker, Dillon, Gallagher. The referee for that game was John Carpenter (Dublin), who had also been in charge of Rovers’ 1976 victory.

Martin is second in the club’s goalscoring charts with 52 goals. On April 16, 1983 at Glenmalure Park, he famously scored the only goal of the game against Shamrock Rovers to seal a place in Europe for the first time. They were hammered 14-0 on aggregate by Tottenham in the UEFA Cup the following season.

Head to Head

Sep 15, 1974 – Section A – Glenmalure Park – Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Drogheda United

Sep 02, 1979 – Second Round – Glenmalure Park – Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Drogheda United AET, WON 5-4 ON PENS

Sep 08, 1985 – Group Four – United Park – Drogheda United 2-3 Shamrock Rovers (Kenny pen, Scully, M Byrne)

Oct 06, 1985 – Group Four – Glenmalure Park – Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Drogheda United (Steedman)

Oct 29, 1990 – Quarter Final – RDS – Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Drogheda United (M Byrne, Dolan)

Sep 12, 1995 – Quarter Final – RDS – Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Drogheda United

May 08, 2007 – Second Round – United Park – Drogheda United 0-3 Shamrock Rovers (Myler 2, Cassidy)

The first League Cup meeting between the sides was this month 38 years ago. Robbie Cooke capitalised on two mistakes by goalkeeper Peter McCarron to score twice in the second half. They met again in 1979, in what was a scoreless draw and Rovers’ only penalty shootout in Milltown history.

The first four were converted and our young left back Byrne shot wide. McAuley’s penalty hit the underside of the crossbar and rebounded off Alan O’Neill back into the net but it was correctly disallowed by referee Eamonn Farrell.

He then ordered a retake of Richie Bayly’s spot kick because Forrestal had moved and having put the first one wide, Bayly took his second chance. Substitute Conway shot over the bar and Rovers won the tie.

Drogheda finished 3rd and Rovers 4th (last) in their group in the 1985/86 competition. Rovers twice came from behind to win in September. Ritchie Williams gave Drogs an early lead but Harry Kenny quickly equalised from the penalty spot.

7 minutes before the break, Jodi Byrne mishandled a back pass to allow Gerry Martin to score. In the second half, Gerry Scully and Mick Byrne won it for the Hoops, Byrne heading down across goal before the ball eventually went in off the post.

Drogheda won 2-1 at Milltown a month later. Pat Byrne had an unusual starting position at right-back and Peter Eccles sustained a broken nose only two minutes into the game. Paddy Dillon bagged a brace for the visitors in the 61st and 71st minute with Neville Steedman pulling one back in the 78th.

In 1990, Rovers cruised into the semi-finals. The first goal was a long range beauty by Mick Byrne and in the second half, Pat Dolan knocked home number two low into the corner. They met at the RDS again five years later, a late Trevor Crolly goal giving the Boynesiders the victory.

The most recent game was at United Park in 2007 and Drogheda had the Setanta Cup final in mind when fielding a virtual reserve side. Two headers from Andy Myler and another goal by substitute David Cassidy saw Rovers into the next round.