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Drogheda United claimed the EA Sports Cup after a lacklustre display from Rovers. O'Brien's opener was followed by an own goal just before the break and although Killian Brennan's superb free kick gave the Hoops some hope, Eric Foley's deflected shot restored the two goal deficit. Conor Powell was harshly sent-off in the 72nd minute and Ciaran Kilduff was stretchered off in a game to forget for Rovers.
The opening ten minutes saw little incident and Janssons punched clearance from Gavin Brennans high ball into the area the only goalmoth action. Ronan Finn's cross on 13 minutes saw Brennan and Kilduff get in each others way but a minute late Gary McCabe's free-kick into the box caused a Drogs defender to head just wide of his own goal.
Stephen Rice set up Brennan from a free-kick 25 yards out but his shot was straight at Sava in the Drogs goal. On 19 minutes a Gannon cross saw Gavin Brennan stoop to head the ball towards goal but Jansson saved. Rovers should have taken the lead on 21 minutes when McCabe ran at the box and found Kilduff who flicked the ball into space for Ronan Finn to shoot on goal from a central position in the box but Sava produced a fine save with his legs.
[GOAL 0:1 - 32nd min.] Rovers were caught napping from a quickly taken corner and Gavin Brennan had time to cross to the near post for Declan O'Brien to get to the ball before Jansson and flick the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Rovers froze after the goal and Hynes almost doubled the lead with a header from a free-kick but Jansson saved at full stretch. Foley then headed the resultant corner just wide.
[GOAL 0:2 - 43rd min.] It got worse for Rovers just two minutes before the break when a corner from the right saw Janssons attempted punch rebound off Gilbert and into the net.
The second-half started with both O'Brien and Gannon going close for the Drogs from headers insode the Hoops box. Gary McCabe was trying to prise the Drogs defence open with his runs but to no avail and Sives saw his shot blocked inside the box as the Hoops began to ask questions of the Drogs defence.
[GOAL 1:2 - 59th min.] The Hoops were thrown a lifeline when McCabe was fouled in a central position just outside the box and Killian Brennan stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the top right-hand corner of the net.
[GOAL 1:3 - 61st min.] The Drogs regained their two goal advantage when from a Rovers throw-in on the right they lost possession and the ball frll to Foley outside the box and his shot took a deflection and ended up in the back of the net.
Rovers lost Ciaran Kilduff after he went down in the box and he had to be stretchered off. Conor Powell then was shown a straight red card by Referee Connolly when he seemed to accidently clip the heels of O'Brien as he chased a through ball. Rovers pushed men forward but the Drogs were always dangerous on the counter-attack. Despite some pressure in the Drogs box the Hoops were unable to create a clear cut chance. Hynes could have extended the lead for the Louth men with five minutes remaining but he blasted over when well placed from a Ryan Brennan pass.
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