Luckless Drogheda ladies come up just shy again in water polo's Irish Senior Cup Finals
Having under-performed by their own standards early on in the season due to missing a number of key players, the Drogheda outfit began to find their form in recent months as they picked up a number of notable wins in the run-up to the 'Diamond Event', the Irish Senior Cup Finals.
The tournament was held in Limerick University, with a total of 14 teams involved between men's and ladies.
It all started off well enough for Drogheda as, after being paired off against one of their many old rivals North Dublin, the Boynesiders prevailed 12-6 thanks to a well-executed team plan.
Next was a match versus Tribes of Galway who entered the competition as one of the most in-form teams in the country, on the back of a very impressive run of eight wins and just one loss.
It was in this encounter that Drogheda unfortunately were outplayed and so they secured 'only' the runners-up position in Group B and therefore had to face Group A winners St Vincents in the semi-finals.
This was a highly anticipated match in light of the fact that Drogheda knocked them out at the same stage in 2024 following a penalty shootout, but this time the Boynesiders were beaten by a better team who went on to win the competition and record their 12th triumph in the last 13 Irish Senior Cup finals.
Still, Drogheda can look forward with optimism to the 2025/26 season which will see the return of some pivotal stalwarts. Perhaps that will boost their chances of finally going all the way in the Irish Senior Cup, having contested four of the last five finals.
The Drogheda senior ladies squad are always looking for new players, as are the junior ranks of the Drogheda underage club who train in Aura in Drogheda on a Monday night.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Fortunes favour Drogheda United for once as they see off wasteful Sligo Rovers
DESPITE Drogheda United's lofty league position it feels like the whole world has been against them in recent weeks. Their controversial omission from the Europa Conference League has been the most crushing blow, but refereeing decisions seem to have gone against them and the squad's injury woes show no sign of abating. So the relief was palpable at Sullivan & Lambe Park on Friday night when the Boynesiders' fortunes took a turn for the better and they held on to beat lowly Sligo Rovers and climb back up to second in the table for the weekend at least. Drogheda perhaps could have put the game to bed earlier in the game and Conor Kane was out of luck when his long-range shot smashed off the upright with the score at 1-0, but in the final quarter physical and mental fatigue kicked in and Kevin Doherty's men were certainly fortunate that the Bit O'Red had left their shooting boots behind. The all-important goal arrived in only the third minute when Warren Davis dispossessed Jad Hakiki in midfield, drove forward and then released Douglas James-Taylor who cut onto his right foot and arrowed a superb shot into the top corner of Sam Sargeant's net. Sligo, though, created two good chances immediately after, with Luke Dennison blocking Wilson Waweru's shot from point-blank range before foiling Owen Elding when he placed his effort too close to the keeper. Over the next 10 minutes Drogheda could easily have scored several more goals. Kieran Cruise's piledriver was blocked behind by Waweru, James-Taylor flashed a header just wide and Conor Keeley twice went close from set pieces. Then James-Taylor got on the end of a great pass from Keeley, stepped inside his marker and rolled the ball invitingly to Davis who blazed over the bar from six yards. Sligo had another good spell after that and Dennison and his captain Ryan Brennan were prominent in ensuring Drogheda's goal stayed intact. The home side came good again at the end of the half, no doubt inspired by a superb 60-yard run by Andrew Quinn which led to a James-Taylor shot that was scrambled away for a corner. ADVERTISEMENT Quinn himself and Davis both had efforts blocked behind, James-Taylor then headed wide and deep into stoppage time Kane dribbled forward menacingly and unleashed a swerving effort that rattled the woodwork. The second half was more of a rearguard exercise, though, as Drogheda visibly ran out of steam. There were brief flashes of good attacking play. Davis and James-Taylor were working well together and the Tallaght native hit a poor shot over the bar in the 55th minute before pulling the ball back just out of reach for his strike partner. Kane had another chance which was blocked by a defender. But for the most part Sligo were on the offensive and Dennison performed heroics to keep out Will Fitzgerald's effort in the 51st minute. Just before the hour mark Quinn stepped in with a timely block to stop Elding as he went to pull the trigger, and Hakiki then latched onto a rebound and flashed a shot off the outside of the post when it looked easier to score. Sligo sub Cian Kavanagh then flashed a header wide from inside the six-yard box before having another effort saved by Dennison. The diminutive Darragh Markey, who had replaced Kieran Cruise at half-time, stood tall in the defensive wall to block an Elding free kick and there was another big scare in stoppage time when John Mahon headed goalwards and Elding was inches away from nodding the ball over the line for what would have been a dramatic equaliser. DROGHEDA: Luke Dennison 9; George Cooper 7, Conor Keeley 8, Andrew Quinn 9; Kieran Cruise 6 (Darragh Markey 46, 7), Ryan Brennan 6, Luke Heeney 8, Conor Kane 8; Shane Farrell 7; Warren Davis 8 (Thomas Oluwa 79, 6), Douglas James-Taylor 8. Subs not used: Aaron Harper Bailey, Zishim Bawa, Bridel Bosakani, Scott Brady, Sean McCarthy, Fuhad Kareem, Jack Brady. SLIGO: Sam Sargeant 7; Conor Reynolds 8, Gareth McElroy 6 (Kyle McDonagh 6), John Mahon 7, Reece Hutchinson 8; Jake Doyle-Hayes 7, Stephen Mallon 7 (Oskar van Hattum 69, 7); Owen Elding 7, Jad Hakiki 7 (Francely Lomboto 85), Will Fitzgerald 7; Wilson Waweru 5 (Cian Kavanagh 69, 5). Subs not used: Harvey Lintott, Connor Malley, Guilherme Rego Priosti, Daire Patton, Conor Walsh. Attendance: 2,013
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United end difficult week with narrow victory over Sligo Rovers
The result sees United climb back into second place. Their quest for European qualification via the league route takes on a whole different dimension now in light of their expulsion from the Uefa Conference League this summer. While a good display against Shamrock Rovers on Monday did not deliver a positive result, they displayed a determination and rigour against Sligo that will likely form the backbone of the remainder of their season. Douglas-James Taylor, in what may be one of his last games for the club, scored the winner. His 12-month loan spell expires in 10 days' time and supporters eagerly await news of his future. Kevin Doherty certainly looked in a happier state of mind, smiling and joking pre-match in what was a significant change of mood to four days earlier. That might have had something to do with his team's recent record against the Bit O'Red. Drogheda had won their last three home matches against John Russell's team by an aggregate score of 13-1. James-Taylor's fourth-minute goal added further gloss to that statistic. It owed a lot to Warren Davis winning the ball in midfield. On another evening, this game could have been a high-scoring encounter. Davis, James-Taylor, Andy Quinn and Shane Farrell all went close to extending Drogheda's lead. Sligo, for their part, were wasteful. Misfortune and misfire were their downfall. Jad Hakiki and Cian Kavanagh were the main culprits but Drogs goalkeeper Luke Dennison was a hard man to beat. Drogheda United: Dennison; Cooper, Keeley, Quinn; Cruise (Markey, 46), Heeney, Farrell, Kane; Brennan; James-Taylor, Davis (Oluwa, 79). Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Reynolds, McElroy (McDonagh, 35), Mahon, Hutchinson; Doyle-Hayes, Mallon (Van Hattum, 69); Elding, Hakiki (Lomboto, 83), Fitzgerald; Waweru (Kavanagh, 69).
The 42
2 days ago
- The 42
Drogheda finish difficult week on a high as they beat Sligo and leapfrog Bohs
Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers 0 Barry Landy reports from Weavers Park DOUGLAS JAMES-TAYLOR'S first league goal from open play in 301 days ensured Kevin Doherty's team ended a chastening week on a high note in front of their home supporters. Drogheda will have been cheered even more so by the fact that Bohemians defeat has seen them leapfrog the Gypsies into second position in the Premier Division. Advertisement Drogheda's European expulsion means that their quest to finish in the top three or four places in the League of Ireland takes on a much greater significance now. Their players will be keen to qualify once again and get an opportunity lost by no fault of their own. James-Taylor hadn't hit an open play goal since his header in the FAI Cup semi-final last October. He has battled with a thigh injury this term though and his early strike against Sligo Rovers as just his second of the season. Darragh Markey and Cian Kavanagh compete. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO His loan spell ends in just 10 days time. The striker belongs to United's sister club Walsall – he has certainly been one of the positives of their multi-club model involvement. If this was to his final home outing for the club, he provided a memorable send-off. There were just three minutes on the clock when Warren Davis harried Jad Hakiki off the ball and midfield and scurried forward. He fed James-Taylor on the edge of the area and his right foot strike left goalkeeper Sam Sargeant with no chance. John Russell will likely spend most of his long journey home wondering how Sligo failed to register at Sullivan & Lambe Park. His side created a host of guilt-edged chances. Misfortune and misfire contributed to a somehow scoreless performance. Luke Dennison saved smartly from Wilson Waweru's flick and then the goalkeeper held Owen Elding's shot from a Will Fitzgerald pull-back. Sligo were lively, incisive and constantly on the front-foot. But the hosts retained an attacking threat at all times. Davis managed to sky an effort from eight yards. It looked harder to miss than score. Andrew Quinn and James-Taylor both went close to doubling the Drogs lead too and Conor Kane's rasping drive came off the bar. After half-time, Sligo assumed control and the most clear-cut chances were theirs. Fitzgerald and Elding tested the goalkeeper while Hakiki and substitute Cian Kavanagh missed glorious openings. When Elding missed a chance to touch an inviting cross into the net in injury time, Sligo's time was up. As Drogheda owner and co-chairman Ben Boycott watched on from the sidelines, his team at least demonstrated that for failings off the pitch, they are still motoring along nicely on it. Related Reads The great transfer gamble: Why League of Ireland clubs must not rely on add-ons for value 'He was awful, that's the worst I've seen Josh' - Shamrock Rovers star heads for Ireland duty on a low Grounds for change in League of Ireland shines a light on anguish and joy in equal measure Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; George Cooper, Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn; Kieran Cruise (Darragh Markey, 46), Luke Heeney, Shane Farrell, Conor Kane; Ryan Brennan; Douglas James-Taylor, Warren Davis (Thomas Oluwa, 79). Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds, Gareth McElroy (Kyle McDonagh, 35), John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Stephen Mallon (Oskar Van Hattum, 69); Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki (Francely Lomboto, 83), Will Fitzgerald; Wilson Waweru (Cian Kavanagh, 69). Ref: Paul Norton
