Jimmy McGeogh’s men came from behind to net their fourth home win of the season to leapfrog Munster rivals Cork and move into second, at the RSC tonight. Colin T O’Brien put the visitors in front ten minutes before the break.
Although United defender John Frost did well to block a first time George O’Callaghan shot, keeper Dan O’Connor could do nothing about O’Brien’s well-guided low shot to the net. O’Callaghan had a goal disallowed earlier in the first half, before Waterford threatened the Cork goal on 24 minutes. Michael Devine produced a brilliant reflex save to keep out a John Frost shot, which had deflected off City’s Alan Bennett.
Deep into the second half, PJ Banville levelled for Waterford from a lengthy cross from Damien O’Loughlin. And the points were sealed dramatically for the home side with a penalty awarded to them for a handball.
Keeper Devine, who received a yellow card in the resulting melee, failed to stop local favourite Vinny O’Sullivan’s 87th minute spot kick and United now head Pat Dolan’s men by two points.
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Drogheda United 4 St Pat’s 2
Andy Myler’s fifth league goal of the season and another from Declan O’Brien gave United the spoils, moving them ahead of Bohemians in the table, having come from behind twice at O2 Park tonight.
Eamon Collins’ men had the winning of this game but perhaps lacking the leadership of Paul Osam, out with a knee injury, fell to their third draw in their last five games. Pat’s took the lead from a move initiated by Dave Freeman down the right flank.
Charles Mbabzi Livingstone found space to cross for an unmarked Tony Bird to head gleefully past Gary Rogers after two minutes, for his ninth goal of the season. Twelve minutes later, winger Gary Cronin crossed high for Dan O’Connor to move unnoticed from the back to head the equaliser for the home side.
Yet almost instantly St Pat’s put United on the back foot – a Keith Fahey corner produced the third headed goal of the game, this time from former Shels’ midfielder Davy Byrne glancing home over Rogers. Drogheda’s Dom Tierney scrambled home from eighteen yards on the hour mark with Myler knocking United into the lead from a 76th minute Cronin corner and Decaln O’Brien sealed the win with two minutes remaining.
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Shamrock Rovers 2 Longford T 3
Longford Town produced another excellent performance for their second win of the week following Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over Derry, to stun a ‘Euro-thrashed’ Rovers at Richmond Park tonight. Tony Grant gave the Hoops’ faithful a lead on 38 minutes against the run of play as Town pressured Rovers into conceding eight corners inside the first twenty minutes.
Midfielder Alan Kirby slipped his marker to move into the penalty area and shot home past Barry Ryan to square matters two minutes later, and defender Brian McGovern, a scorer against Derry, headed home from a Kirby corner thanks to poor Rovers’ marking.
Substitute Trevor Molloy looked to have grabbed a tired Rovers’ eleven a share of the points, but Pip Keogh, who scored his first ever goal for Longford on Tuesday, came up with the winner rifling home a low shot from the right hand side late on.
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Shelbourne 1 UCD 1
League leaders Shelbourne disappointed against bottom club UCD but will be relieved with tonight’s results from around the country. Shelbourne now lead the table on 28 points, with a gap of six points on the rest.
Paul Doolin’s Students took the lead after just seven minutes.
Pat Sullivan crossed from the right for Robbie Griffin to get up highest to head home past Steve Williams. Shels were stung into attack with Jason Byrne and Stephen Geogeghan both failing to convert one on ones with Patrick Jennings.
However, a left-footed diagonal ball from David Crawley in the 23rd minute gave Byrne to the chance to rifle low and hard off the upright and past Jennings to square up the game. With UCD impressing throughout, the home side were limited to long range shooting for a while, with Thomas Morgan going closest.
Late on, there was consternation in the College defence as a Wesley Hoolahan free kick was headed onto the bar by Stuart Byrne. The waiting rebound saw Hoolahan beat three men but shoot straight at a relieved Jennings.