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Drogheda United 2
Shelbourne 5
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Leaders Shels had held a 1-0 lead at the interval after Alan Moore’s third-minute finish from Owen Heary’s low cross, but that advantage was wiped out by an Andy Myler free kick within a minute of the restart - the striker curling his effort past the dive of Steve Williams for the leveller.
Many in the large crowd assembled at the County Louth venue, with the exception of the sizeable travelling contingent, were thinking that the scene was set for the Drogs to take the victory required to throw open the title race.
But Shels stepped up a gear and, helped by two mistakes from Drogheda goalkeeper Gary Rogers, moved into a 4-1 lead with 22 minutes remaining.
It was a stunning blitz on the Drogheda goal, and while a mix-up between Rogers and central defender Stephen Gray was undoubtedly the principal factor in Shels’ lead goal, the execution by star midfielder Stuart Byrne was exceptional.
Rogers came to the edge of the area to collect a long through ball, only for Gray, who must not have received a call, to try to head the ball away from danger.
Instead, it fell to Byrne 25 yards out and the former Longford Town man
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Three minutes later, it was 3-1, Wes Hoolahan – restored to the starting line-up at the expense of Glen Fitzpatrick (right) – turning onto his supposedly weaker right foot to slam a low shot past Rogers from 12 yards.
Five minutes later, it was 4-1, Jason Byrne heading his 22nd league goal of the campaign after Rogers misjudged the flight of Alan Moore’s free kick from the Shels right hand side.
At that stage, it was damage limitation for Paul Doolin’s Drogheda, but they fell further behind three minutes from time, substitutes Fitzpatrick and Alan Cawley combining for the former to send a free header past Rogers from six yards.
Drogheda pulled one back through a powerful drive from sub Mark Rooney in injury time, the former UCD man firing a volleyed effort over Williams and in off the bar from the angle of the penalty area, but it was hardly even a consolation for the home side, who – in falling to their third straight home defeat in the league – slip behind Bohemians into third place in the Premier Division table.
Drogheda United: Rogers, Sullivan, Sandvliet, O’Connor, Grey, McClare (Rooney, 80), Molloy, Whelan, Cronin (Reilly, 70), O’Brien (Freeman, 80), Myler.
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, Crawley, Harris, Rogers, Crawford, S. Byrne, Moore (Fitzpatrick, 86), Cahill, Hoolahan (Cawley, 86), J. Byrne (Rowe, 88).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)