SOCCER/Setanta Cup semi-final: Linfield 0, Drogheda United 1 James Keddy's first-half goal ended Linfield's reign as all-Ireland champions last night and set up all-Eircom League Setanta Sports Cup final.
Windsor Park was silenced by a second consecutive defeat, during their remarkable season, which was inflicted by smarter opponents who took advantage of Linfield's weary campaigners.
Keddy hit the winner in the 33rd minute, a superb long-range effort that cut goalkeeper Alan Mannus off guard as the ball whistled past his grasping right hand.
Drogheda will now face Eircom League champions Cork City in this season's final - a showdown that will take place on April 22nd (kick-off 7.45pm).
The hosts could not have any complaints as they entered the interval trailing to Keddy's goal, but there were ample complaints directed at the match officials throughout the first half.
Linfield spent more energy contesting referee Ian Stokes' decisions - and at times with good cause - but the Irish League champions were clearly not the dominant force they have been this season. Indeed, they were fortunate not to have sustained greater damage in a first half dominated by the visitors.
Ironically, Linfield had the ball in the Drogheda net in the second minute when Peter Thompson stabbed a loose ball over the line - but Stokes deemed William Murphy guilty of a heavy-handed challenge on United's stand-in goalkeeper Charles Treacy.
Tempers flared after Stokes booked Linfield's Paul McAreavey, Hunter and Murphy all within 10 minutes of one another and bizarrely overlooked Glen Fitzpatrick's dissent following an off-the-ball tussle with Michael Gault. He was booked in the 54th minute for blocking Linfield's attempt to take a quick free-kick.
Fitzpatrick, a tormenting figure for the Linfield defence, almost added a second for Drogheda just before the interval with a confident chip shot that embarrassed stranded Mannus but fell just wide.
Striker Fitzpatrick then had a great chance to bury Linfield midway through the second half after Keddy forced a save from Mannus. The ball fell kindly to Fitzpatrick inside the six-yard box but somehow defender Ervin managed to keep Linfield in the game with a remarkable double block to deny Fitzpatrick.
In a rare attack at the other end, Glenn Ferguson tested Treacy with powerful volley that forced a superb save from the goalkeeper.
In a desperate late bid to score Linfield created havoc in the Drogheda goalmouth but Treacy, who had been called in to replace Dan Connor between the posts, emerged as a hero with an outstanding save to deny Michael Gault.
LINFIELD: A Mannus, Ervin, Hunter, Murphy, McShane, Gault, Kearney, McAreavey, Mouncey, Ferguson, Thompson. Subs: Picking for Mouncey (86 mins), Larmour for Ervin (77 mins).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Treacy, Webb, Gavin, Robinson, Fitzpatrick, Keddy, Shelly, Bradley, Keegan, Barrett. Subs: Gray for Leech (88 mins), Leech for Barrett (27mins).
Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)
