Shane Farrell’s stunning volley a little over two minutes into the match set Drogheda United up for a deserved victory against Waterford, making it two wins from two in the Premier Division.
Mark Doyle scored his first Drogheda United goal in 1,548 days to double his team’s advantage inside 10 minutes. The early signs are positive that his off-season return to a club where he came through the ranks will reap great reward for Kevin Doherty.
Doyle is creeping up Drogheda United’s all-time goalscorer list and barring his goals drying up spectacular fashion, only Declan O’Brien will rank above him in that area very soon.
On a night when the club paid tribute to a legend of old in Damien Byrne, Doyle is a modern-day hero who to the majority of those who braved the freezing temperatures at Sullivan & Lambe Park.
He went closest to scoring Drogheda’s third after the break but having left a Waterford defender grounded with a deft sidestep, goalkeeper Stephen McMullan was behind it all the way.
Farrell’s brilliant early volley came after United began the game strongly. Benny Couto cleared Conor Keeley’s header out from under the bar only for the midfielder to meet the dropping ball first time. His sweetly hit effort flew into the top corner.
Doyle’s long awaited 51st goal for Drogheda was well taken. Thomas Oluwa’s left wing cross was met briefly by the impressive Edwin Agbaje before Doyle picked up the loose ball and bided his time before shooting to the net.
Jon Daly’s Blues came closest in the second half when substitute Cian Barrett’s 35-yard strike rattled the crossbar. The visitors failed to build up a head of steam however and remained susceptible to United breakaways as the game progressed.
Dennison; Quinn, Keeley, Burney (Bolger, 56); Agbaje, Farrell (Godden, 66), O’Brien, Kane; Kavanagh; Doyle, Oluwa (Kareem, 78).
McMullan; Heeney, Mahon, Cann, Couto; Glenfield (Barrett, 68), McLaughlin (Coyle, 68); Lonergan, Noonan, Carty (Voilas, 63); Amond.
Aaron O’Dowd.
