Drogs get campaign up and running as they sweep away desperate Sligo 

United earn their first win of 2025 after last week drawing with an impressive rearguard display against St Patrick’s Athletic. Here they were able to show a more rounded display of their strengths and Rovers couldn’t live with them.

JUMP START: Josh Thomas of Drogheda United celebrates after their side's victory in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers at Sullivan & Lambe Park in Drogheda, Louth. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda 3 (Thomas 41’, Markey 74’, Heeney 90+4’) Sligo Rovers 0

Goals from Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and Luke Heeney earned Drogheda United a thoroughly deserved victory over Sligo Rovers at Sullivan and Lambe Park.

United earned a first win of the campaign after an impressive rearguard display against St Patrick’s Athletic seven days earlier. Here they were able to show a more rounded display of their strengths and Sligo couldn’t live with them.

Drogheda were more of an attacking threat back on home soil for the first time since their FAI Cup heroics last November. The celebrations have long since died down on Boyneside but his was still a homecoming of sorts for Kevin Doherty’s team.

The home side were worthy of the lead they held at half time, courtesy of Welsh striker Thomas. The on-loan Swansea City man had earlier in the game hinted at the danger he posed, twice causing the Sligo centre backs serious concern.

He swept home Shane Farrell’s from 15 yards out, after the Drogheda midfielder had twice seen deliveries from the right partially cleared.

Farrell had previously gone close himself. The former Shelbourne man left Jad Hakiki grounded and surged past full debutant Jake Doyle-Hayes in a central position.

His shot from the edge of the area was parried by Sam Sargeant who was forced to backpedal and stop the loose ball from trickling over the line with Thomas lurking.

Markey had last scored a league goal for United in a home win against Sligo last April. His unerring strike across Sargeant’s goal sealed the points after fine work from both Owen Lambe and substitute Warren Davis.

John Russell’s side were denied a route back into the game when Cian Kavanagh was flagged for offside late on. Two defeats from two games they will have hoped, maybe expected, more from is an underwhelming start. Luke Heeney’s injury time strike – his first goal in four-and-a-half years, iced the Drogs cake.

Drogheda United: Dennison; Quinn, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Farrell, Brennan (Heeney, 89), Kane; Markey; Bawa (Oluwa, 62), Thomas (Davis, 72).

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Lintott (Van Hattum, 69), Denham, Mahon, Hutchinson; Hakiki (Manning, 84), Doyle-Hayes (Lomboto, 69), Malley; Elding, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh.

Referee: David Dunne