Drogheda United roared to a comprehensive victory over Sligo Rovers to earn a first league victory of the season on their return to life on home soil after a long, long wait.
The last time United lined out at home, they had not yet been crowned FAI Cup winners. They are a full time outfit now too.
Some things have changed on the Windmill Road as well. There have been some cosmetic changes, 250 extra seats installed to cope with the rising demand. It has a new name too – Sullivan & Lambe Park.
Strikes from Welsh striker Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and Luke Heeney confirmed that maiden win of the season.
It came 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.
The FAI Cup celebrations have long since died down on Boyneside but his was still a homecoming of sorts for Kevin Doherty’s team. They provided a performance full of attacking threat and looked in control even when without the ball to leave supporters satisfied.
Still without Walsall loanees Douglas James-Taylor and Elicha Ahui, Kevin Doherty named an unnamed XI.
Sligo had begun the campaign by shipping three goals at home to Waterford six days previously and found themselves doing the majority of the defending in the first half.
The lead goal arrived after Sligo had twice failed to adequately clear Shane Farrell deliveries from the right. It was third time lucky for the former Shels midfielder as his low cross was swept home from the edge of the area by Thomas.
Markey’s goal came in the 74th minute and he owes much to the work of both Owen Lambe and Warren Davis in the build-up. The latter stole the ball on the touchline and found the midfielder.
He drilled a shot into the ground that went across goalkeeper Sam Sergeant and into the side netting. Heeney replaced Ryan Brennan in the final minute of normal time and few could have envisaged he would add to the scoring.
He drilled in for his first goal in four-and-a-half years. That was the goal that promoted Drogheda in the Covid-interrupted 2020 season. At least this time, there was a crowd to see it.
Cian Kavanagh’s late effort was ruled out for offside. It might have changed things late on but the flag denied him regardless.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley, James Bolger; Owen Lambe, Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan (Luke Heeney, 89), Conor Kane; Darragh Markey; Zishim Bawa (Thomas Oluwa 62), Josh Thomas (Warren Davis, 72).
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Harvey Lintott (Oskar Van Hattum, 69), Ollie Denham, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Jad Hakiki (Ronan Manning, 84), Jake Doyle-Hayes (Francely Lomboto, 69), Conor Malley; Will Fitzgerald, Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh.
Referee: David Dunne
