Rovers get title defence up and running

Ace striker Gary Twigg scored a goal in each half to give defending champions Shamrock Rovers a winning start to the new campaign, and it was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, against an under-strength Drogheda.

The Boynesiders, missing all three Brennan brothers and Eric Foley through suspension, lined out in a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to stifle the Hoops, while the injured Declan O’Brien and Tiarnan Mulvenna surprisingly made it onto the subs’ bench.

In contrast, Rovers were almost at full strength and almost from the first whistle were the dominant team, with right-back Kerrea Gilbert pushing forward at every opportunity to lend support to Gary Twigg and Gary O’Neill in attack.