Drogheda United 0 Shamrock Rovers 2:A FORGETTABLE opening 45 minutes was followed by a scintillating second half which saw the outcome of this one remain in doubt right up to the final minute of additional time.

Rovers took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half but had to withstand intense Drogheda pressure throughout until the fifth minute of added time when the home side were caught with a classic sucker punch.

Fit-again Gary Twigg secured the three points with a clinching goal on the break as United pushed forward in numbers. With the second half barely two minutes old Rovers hit the front following a sweeping move involving James Chambers, Chris Turner and ultimately Robert Bayly who curled a beautiful strike from just outside the box over Murphy to the top corner of the net. With just over an hour gone the Tallaght outfit almost doubled their advantage as Chambers corner found Dan Murray but his shot that appeared destined for the net was headed from the line by Alan McNally.

Almost immediately at the other Drogheda went close to equalising when Paul Crowley was upended on the edge of the box and Joe Kendrick shaved the bar with the resulting free kick.

Glen Fitzpatrick then saw Danny Murphy block his goal-bound strike.

But, as Drogheda threw everything bar the kitchen sink at their opponents in the dying minutes, Rovers’ substitute Twigg latched onto another desperate clearance and raced from just inside his own half to the other end of the park before rounding Murphy and sliding the ball home.

DROGHEDA: Murphy, Kendrick, McNally, Martin (Brennan 79), Crowley, Flood, O’Connor, Treacy, Daly (Duffy 87), King, Fitzpatrick.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Flynn, Price, Murray, Murphy, Cahill (O’Connor 76), Chambers, Turner, Bayly, Dennehy (Barrett 90), Stewart (Twigg 66).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)