Hoops notch easy win over Drogs

Shamrock Rovers 4 Drogheda United 0

Shamrock Rovers refocused from their Europa League adventure to get their title retention hopes back on track with this facile win over Drogheda.

Rovers now move level on points with Sligo Rovers at the top of the table, with a game in hand, ahead of arch-rivals Bohemians’ visit to Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday night.

Rovers could afford the luxury of making six changes to their starting 11 from the Spurs game last Thursday and still had far too much for Drogheda.

Karl Sheppard twice came close to scoring from Rohan Ricketts assists before Hoops took the lead on 23 minutes.

Ricketts put over their fifth corner of the game from the left and Sheppard headed home from virtually under the crossbar with keeper Stephen Trimble marked absent.

With Rovers well on top, a second goal duly arrived on 42 minutes. Sheppard put Ciaran Kilduff in behind and he held off the challenge of Alan McNally to round Trimble and slide the ball home.

Billy Dennehy added the third goal from a 70th minute penalty after Brian Gannon was harshly adjudged to have hauled Kilduff down in the box.

Fellow substitute Gary O’Neill got the fourth on 81 minutes, turning well having collected Dennehy’s cross to drill to the net.