Twigg hits double as Rovers roar into gear
The margin of victory in no way flattered the Hoops, for they dominated from start to finish as Gary Twigg plundered two more goals and Ciaran Kilduff and Billy Dennehy weighed in with one apiece.
The home side were struggling to get out of their own half despite the gale at their backs, and it was no surprise when Rovers went ahead on 28 minutes. Billy Dennehy swung in a cross and the Drogheda defence were absent as Twigg nodded past David Quirke from six yards.
The Boynesiders’ goal led something of a charmed life over the next few minutes as, first, Ken Oman hooked to the net, only to have the strike chalked off for offside, and then Kilduff miskicked after being put clean through on goal.
Almost straight from the restart a rasping shot from Ronan Finn was deflected wide by Hungarian league debutant Robert Kovacsevics, but on the 50-minute mark the Hoops notched their second goal.
McCabe’s stinging shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Quirke and Dennehy’s follow-up came back off the woodwork straight into the path of Kilduff who tapped in.
Just six minutes later it was Twigg’s turn to enjoy a tap-in goal after captain Dan Murray had knocked Dennehy’s corner towards the six-yard area.
Such was Rovers’ dominance that Drogheda manager Mick Cooke had used all three of his substitutions inside the hour mark and the visitors put the icing on the cake on 73 minutes when Dennehy blasted to the net from a cross by Pat Sullivan.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Quirke; Gannon, Kovacsevics, Whelan, Hand; C O’Brien (Costigan, 46), Lester (McCrossan, 46), Quigley, M O’Brien (Flynn, 59); Freeman, Corcoran.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman (Flynn, 59), Stevens, McCabe, Rice, Finn (McCormack, 78), Dennehy; Twigg, Kilduff (Sheppard, 77).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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