Shamrock Rovers - 0 Drogheda Utd - 0 Drogheda United goalkeeper Gary Rogers pulled off a string of top drawer saves at Richmond Park last night to deny Shamrock Rovers a winning start to the new Premier Division season.
The United keeper was in the thick of the action in the 54th minute when he dived full length to brilliantly push away a Trevor Molloy penalty, awarded after Padraig Gallogley had upended Shane Robinson.
Just a minute after the penalty miss Robinson should really have scored when he found himself unmarked in front of goal, but he fired his effort wide of the target.
And it was to be Rogers again 20 minutes from time who came to the rescue for Drogheda as he pulled off a superb one-handed save at the near post to deny Stephen Grant a certain goal, while in the 75th minute Molloy volleyed just over having been put through by Grant.
For all their possession in the opening 45 minutes, Rovers had created little. Having come out of the starting blocks well and creating some early chances, they took their foot off the pedal.
Inside the first 10 minutes Alan Reynolds saw a goalbound shot hit team-mate Richie Byrne, while moments later Byrne himself headed just over.
However, the best chance of the opening half fell to Drogheda, in the 34th minute when Rovers keeper Barry Ryan was forced to tip over an Andy Myler free-kick.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ryan, Goff, Deans, Colwell, Palmer, Byrne, Robinson, Reynolds, T Grant, Molloy, S Grant. Sub: Kelly for T Grant 47.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, Gallogley, Gray, Bunce, Tierney, Scully, Jones, Gallagher, Tarrant, Myler, Cronin. Subs: Brannigan for Scully 50, Beasley for Jones 87, Delaney for Tarrant 90.
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
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