Day to forget for Drogheda United as Shamrock Rovers rub salt into the wound after CAS appeal verdict
DROGHEDA UNITED felt they never got a rub of the Greene - as their Conference League expulsion was followed by defeat to Shamrock Rovers.
Aaron Greene was the Hoops match winner as the league leaders came from behind to see off the dogged Drogs and extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points.
But Kevin Doherty's Drogheda United just felt it was a day where nothing would go their way.
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And they were then aggrieved by a big decision going against them that gave Rovers' their equaliser just four minutes before half-time.
It happened when Dylan Watts' ball drifted through to Luke Dennison just before Graham Burke arrived only, for the referee to then give a handball against Andrew Quinn.
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It was given by assistant referee Emmett Dynan - and Hoops' fans who had the same view as he did were adamant it was handball - though no one on the pitch argued for it.
Yet when the Drogs had retreated ten yards and Burke had curled the ball around the wall and just inside Dennison's right-hand post.
It meant the Drogs were upset for the second time of the evening even as they came to terms with the confirmation that they will not be in the Conference League.
Never before had the Drogs pre-match song 'Don't worry be happy' been so appropriate, as the crowd got into it with the first 'Drogheda 'til I die' coming' in the third minute.
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And they took the lead in the fourth.
A high corner from the left by Shane Farrell was met by a towering George Cooper as he climbed above Josh Honohan and Cory O'Sullivan to head powerfully into the net.
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But that was as good as it got for the home side as the Hoops seized control after that and rarely even let them out of their own half.
The could have equalised a minute later only to be denied three times.
Honohan's cross from the right found Trevor Clarke rushing in from the left but his volley was brilliantly palmed away by Luke Dennison.
There were then two more chances as Burke's follow-up was blocked by Quinn and Watts shot straight at Dennison.
1
Aaron Greene's strike in the 74th minute secured the 2-1 away win
But for the most part, Rovers' could not find a way through the massed ranks of claret and blue with Quinn especially seeming to get his head to everything.
And, there was always a risk that the Drogs could conjure something from a set-piece or on the break, with Farrell forcing Ed McGinty into a flying save on 31 minutes.
But Burke's goal four minutes before half-time left the Drogs feeling aggrieved and saw gaffer Kevin Doherty booked for his protests.
HOOPS FRUSTRATION
Not that the Hoops were any happier with referee Neil Doyle, who walked off the pitch at half time escorted by Rovers' Stephen Bradley and Glenn Cronin, and Drogs No. 2 Daire Doyle.
The visitors were further incensed when he failed to award a free when Cooper took down substitute Michael Noonan when he would have been through on goal on 70 minutes.
But by then, the game had slipped into the same pattern as the first half with Rovers pressing and Drogheda looking for breakaways.
The hosts had half chances with Quinn twice leading the charge out, but the Hoops' bench press - Noonan, Jack Byrne and Danny Mandroiu came on - made the difference.
And they did unpick the Drogs lock 16 minutes from time when Byrne fed Danny Mandrou on the edge of the area and his first time pass slipped Greene in to coolly finish.
The Drogs did push for an equaliser and Warren Davis headed over while Byrne came close to wrapping it up for Rovers with a curling effort.
But the hosts were again aggrieved in injury time as goalkeeping coach Aaron Shanahan was sent off for his protests over a call going against the Drogs.
Sun Star Man - Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers)
Drogheda United: Dennison 6; Cooper 7 (Harper-Bailey 71, 6), Keeley 7, Quinn 7; Cruise 6, Heeney 6, Farrell 7, Kane 7; Markey 5 (Brennan 56); James-Taylor 5 (Davis 65, 6), Oluwa 5.
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty 7; Grace 7, Lopes 7, C O'Sullivan 7 (Byrne 65, 7); Honohan 7, Watts 7 (Noonan 65, 6), Healy 7, Clarke 7 (Grant 76, 6); Nugent 5 (Mandroiu 7, ht), Burke 7 (Cleary 79, 6), Greene 7.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin) 4.
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