Drogheda United produced a stunning second-half performance to defeat Cabinteely 5-1 on the evening, 6-2 on aggregate to advance to the promotion/relegation play-off final. Luke McNally was the hero for the hosts as he netted a hat-trick followed b
Drogheda United produced a stunning second-half performance to defeat Cabinteely 5-1 on the evening, 6-2 on aggregate to advance to the promotion/relegation play-off final.
Luke McNally was the hero for the hosts as he netted a hat-trick followed by strikes from Chris Lyons and Jamie Hollywood as Drogheda cruised to victory.
The hosts started brightly and they should’ve taken the lead inside the opening five minutes as Sean Brennan picked out Chris Lyons who saw his early strike superbly tipped around the post by Stephen McGuinness.
Drogheda got the goal their dominance deserved on 35 minutes as Brennan’s free-kick from the right was met by McNally, who saw his initial effort saved, but he reacted quickest to volley beyond McGuinness.
Despite being outplayed for much of the contest, Cabo drew level early in the second-half as Conor Keeley powered a header against the crossbar with Kieran Marty Waters converting the resulting loose ball from a yard out.
While Drogheda were wasteful first-half, their response to the equaliser was breathtakingly clinical. In a carbon copy of the opener, Brennan delivered another quality ball into the box which McNally met head on for his eight of the season.
The Drogheda centre-back wasn’t finished there though, as he completed his hat-trick with a sweet first time volley from Lyons’ cross to send United Park into raptures.
Whatever hopes Cabo had of a comeback were completely diminished as the Drogs made it three goals in five minutes with Lyons curling an unstoppable shot beyond McGuinness from all of 25 yards.
Drogheda put the icing on the cake with 10 minutes to go as substitute Jamie Hollywood made it 5-1 on the evening as he fired high into the roof of the net.
A stunning display from the Boynesiders who will be hoping for a repeat performance when they host Finn Harps in the first leg of the promotion/relegation final on Monday.
