Drogheda United kept tabs with SSE Airtricity League First Division leaders Shelbourne by seeing off Limerick FC on a 4-1 scoreline at the Markets Field. Limerick led thanks to a third minute Clyde O’Connell header, but Drogheda hit four goals after
Drogheda United kept tabs with SSE Airtricity League First Division leaders Shelbourne by seeing off Limerick FC on a 4-1 scoreline at the Markets Field.
Limerick led thanks to a third minute Clyde O’Connell header, but Drogheda hit four goals after the break with Jamie Hollywood, Jake Hyland, Mark Doyle and Ryan O’Shea all hitting the target.
Drogheda manager, Tim Clancy, paid tribute to his side’s performance after they inflicted Limerick’s second home defeat of the 2019 season.
“It’s a very difficult place to come,” said Clancy. “We knew that they were a threat from set pieces and we tried to limit the free kicks and corners, but after three minutes we give away a silly free kick.
“It’s a great ball and they bury it from six yards out. I thought we reacted well, but to be honest, they could have nicked one or two more on the first half on the counter attack.
“In the second half we just had to try and keep in the game and move the ball a but quicker. I’m delighted for young Ryan O’Shea to get the fourth goal. Another lad from our U-19s that has come through.
“He did very well on his debut last week against Longford and then tonight he goes and gets a goal. We are delighted with the points. I thought the second half was as good as we have played all season.”
Drogheda have been forced to look towards their academy system for players since Clancy took charge back in December 2017.
It is a policy that Clancy has stuck with since he arrived in Drogheda and it looks like one that could bare fruit for the club in the near future.
“That’s where we are at. We don’t have the budget to go and sign players from other clubs on decent money.
"I said that when I came in here that I wanted to have a pathway for the underage to get into the first team. I didn’t want it to stop at U-19s.
“I don’t know how many players that we have given a debut to in the last season or so, but we had Jordan Adeyemo come on, Ryan O’Shea that are two from the U-19s.
“James Clarke has played a lot for us this season, Eoin McPhillips started last week. We have had a couple more of them on the bench in the last few weeks as well.
“It’s brilliant for them and it’s a lot more appealing for them to be playing football, whether it be in the First Division rather than sitting in the stand watching a senior team play in the Premier Division.”
