ANDY LYONS’ eighth goal of the season was enough to break Drogheda United hearts and send Shamrock Rovers into the FAI Cup quarter-finals.
Lyons, the match-winner last Thursday against Ferencvaros, popped up yesterday evening with yet another big moment in his debut season with the Hoops.
Deep into extra-time, and with the Hoops tired and on the ropes, the Ireland Under-21 international raced onto Justin Ferizaj’s long ball forward, stepped inside Andrew Quinn and finished low into the bottom right-hand corner from 18 yards.
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It put an end to Drogheda’s dream of what technically would have been an upset based on league positions, but not on results between the two sides this season.
Given that the Boynesiders recorded a win and a draw in their two league games with the Hoops, it was no surprise that they didn’t roll over when Rovers grabbed an early lead.
Sean Gannon’s fourth minute opener came in a half that was dominated by the visitors, where they threatened to run riot.
But in a real Jekyll and Hyde performance by the Hoops, they were on the backfoot for much of the second-half and were back on terms when Dean Williams struck on 58 minutes.
Rovers, who looked stronger, fitter and were quicker to every 50/50 ball in the opening period, were guilty of errors - both forced and unforced - after the break.
They sliced open the Drogheda defence after just four minutes when Jack Byrne’s brilliant pass landed in front of Rory Gaffney, who had time to take a touch and shoot.
It wasn’t a clean hit, however, from the Hoops striker and the ball bounced into the ground, taking the sting out of the effort and allowing goalkeeper Colin McCabe to parry.
But Gaffney was quick to react to the rebound and was more precise when he hooked the ball back across goal, where Gannon was waiting to finish from six yards.
Rovers seemed to have the measure of their opponents and they continued to attack with menace.
McCabe was on-form to deny Dylan Watts and Byrne, with barely a quarter-hour gone, as the visitors attacked in waves.
Added to McCabe’s form was the fact that Gaffney couldn’t find his range and was well off target on a couple of occasions.
By the time Williams equalised, 13 minutes after the restart, Drogheda had turned the game on its head.
From a half-cleared corner Evan Weir found Grimes on the right-hand side. He drilled the ball low into the centre and Williams drilled the ball towards goal from close range.
For a moment it looked like Hoops stand-in ‘keeper Leon Pohls would keep it out - but despite getting a hand to the ball he couldn’t stop it squirming over the line.
Extra-time beckoned - thanks in part to a fine McCabe save on 89 minutes to deny sub Ferizaj with an outstretched boot.
McCabe could do little, however, when Lyons let fly from the edge of the area to send Rovers into the last-eight.
DROGHEDA UNITED
Colin McCabe 8
Keith Cowan 6
Georgie Poynton 7
Andrew Quinn 6
Evan Weir 7
Gary Deegan 8
Dylan Grimes 7
Darragh Markey 7
Darragh Noone 7
Dayle Rooney 6
Dean Williams 7
SUBS: Adam Foley (for Rooney 90), Luke Heeney (for Noone 93), Chris Lyons (for Williams 98), Dane Massey (for Weir 120)
SUBS NOT USED: Lee Steacy, Fiachra Pagel, Emre Topcu, Stevan Stanic-Floody.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Leon Pohls 6
Sean Hoare 7
Lee Grace 6
Dan Cleary 6
Sean Gannon 7
Dylan Watts 6
Gary O’Neill 7
Jack Byrne 7
Andy Lyons 7
Aaron Greene 6
Rory Gaffney 6
SUBS: Justin Ferizaj (for Byrne 66), Aidomo Emakhu (for Greene 66), Neil Farrugia (for Gannon 66), Sean Kavanagh (for Watts 80), Richie Towell (for Hoare 99), Ronan Finn (for Gaffney 112).
SUBS NOT USED: Alan Mannus, Chris McCann, Gideon Tetteh.
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