Shelbourne's nervous start to the season continued as they squandered the lead three times against newly-promoted Drogheda who thus maintained their positive start on their return to the Premier Division to go top of the table.
Having promised changes after their poor display in losing 3-0 in Cork last week, Shelborne manager Pat Fenlon brought himself into midfield and Tony McCarthy returned to central defence.
Trevor Molloy, sent off last week, worked a one-two with Ollie Cahill to send over a low cross which Drogheda midfielder Gary Cronin, back attempting to cover at the far post, turned into his own net after six minutes.
Well in the match, Drogheda continued to carve out decent openings and Shelbourne had a let-off when Derek Delaney lifted his shot well over the crossbar after Shelbourne failed to clear Cronin's corner.
Then on 36 minutes Shelbourne stepped out for Dom Tierney's cross to leave Delaney all alone to force the ball home for a deserved equaliser. All Drogheda's hard work counted for nothing, however, as they conceded another soft goal within a minute. Stephen Geoghegan pulled the ball back for Byrne whose low drive from 16 yards squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Gary Rogers and into the net.
But another goalkeeping error had Drogheda level two minutes before the break. Steve Williams spilled a header from Stuart Taylor and Delaney gleefully accepted another gift to shoot home.
Shelbourne regained the lead within eight minutes of the restart. Again Rogers won't be happy as he failed to gather a low cross from Richie Baker and Molloy, easily Shelborne's most effective player, drilled the rebound to the net.
A spirited Drogheda continued to battle and they levelled for a third time to secure their point on 69 minutes when Taylor picked his spot.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Prenderville, Heary, McCarthy, Crawley; R Baker, Fenlon, S Byrne, Cahill; Geoghegan (Roberts 79), Molloy.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers; Dunne, Lynch, O'Connor, B Kelly; O'Connor, Taylor, Tierney, Cronin; O'Brien, Delaney (Quinless 66).
Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).
Shelbourne ... 3
Drogheda United ... 3
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