Rovers bring the storm to move within touching distance of four in a row

Bogey team Drogheda dismissed with ease by five different Shams scorers as champions move six clear with three games to play

EASY GOING: Neil Farrugia, 23, of Shamrock Rovers scores his side's fourth goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Shamrock Rovers 5 Drogheda United 0

The Hoops fans were singing “here we go, four in a row” from early on as their team demolished Drogheda United 5-0 on Sunday night – taking a massive step towards the league trophy returning to Tallaght for the fourth consecutive season.

In this re-arranged fixture following Storm Babet hitting Friday’s scheduled game, Shamrock Rovers were 3-0 up inside the first half hour and they went on to claim a win with ease through five different goalscorers to move them six points clear with three games remaining.

The Boynesiders have been a bogey team for Rovers recently with the Hoops without a win against United in their last six league matches but since United won in Tallaght in May, Rovers have now won their last eight-consecutive league games with seven clean sheets.

Drogheda didn’t challenge on this occasion as they missed crucial attacking players like Dayle Rooney and Darragh Markey due to injury. They could have done with the suspended centre half Conor Keely at the back and some supporters also to cheer them on. Away fans were banned for this fixture following an incident involving United fans at Oriel Park earlier this season.

Rovers’ wing backs Trevor Clarke and Neil Farrugia tormented United down the flanks and the duo combined for the first goal inside five minutes. Farrugia’s cross was flicked on by Rory Gaffney into Clarke’s path and he finished with a sweet left foot strike.

Gaffney provided the next assist too, nodding back Dan Cleary’s cross into Richie Towell’s path and he tapped into the goal.

Johnny Kenny added the third in the 27th minute as he picked up a Farrugia pass to turn and blast the ball by Andrew Wogan. There was a sense of relief for the centre forward in his goal celebration as it was his first goal since April.

The visitors found themselves four down three minutes into the second half. Cleary’s one-two with Farrugia saw Cleary’s cross not dealt with well by Gary Deegan and Farrugia was on hand to ruthlessly punish.

The fifth goal came as Gaffney beat sub Jarlath Jones before crossing for Markus Poom with the Estonian international scoring with a bullet header.

The win was Rovers’ largest league victory since February 2020. They now know they need just four points from their final three games for Stephen Bradley’s side to equal the historic four-in-a-row Hoops team from the 1980s.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Cleary (Hoare 61), Lopes ©, Grace; Clarke, O'Neill (Nugent h/t), Poom (Burt 61), Farrugia; Towell (Razi h/t), Kenny, Gaffney (Power 61).

Drogheda United: Wogan; Heeney (Topcu 58), Egan (Noone h/t), Weir, Kane; Deegan ©, O’Brien; Foley, Davis (Warren 86), Wade Slater (McNally h/t); Robinson (Jones h/t). 

Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)