Shamrock Rovers 5 Drogheda United 3
Danny North’s hat-trick for Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium sunk Drogheda United to the bottom of the table and into the First Division.
Twice the Drogs led in their pursuit of the win to ensure safety but the superiority of Rovers told on a night if high drama.
Relegation issues weren’t just at stake as merge home side knew victory could be enough to usurp Cork City for runners-up spot if they’re rivals Bohemians delivered a rare favour across the city against the Rebels.
Fulfilling their part of their bargain looked promising early on as Damien Duff, back in the team, was effective enough operating behind like striker North to suggest his man-marker Sean Thornton would have a busy night.
The Drogheda United midfielder was certainly at the thick of the action in a positive way as it was from his corner the visitors forged ahead on 17 minutes when goalkeeper Barry Murphy spilled Alan Byrne’s header into the path of Daly who couldn’t miss from six yards.
Rovers hit back to equalise within a minute. After Patrick Cregg freed Gary McCabe down the right channel, first to react to his low cross was Byrne but only to cannon the ball of his own defender Robert O’Reilly and straight into the net.
Whist that might have been the cue for the Hoops to reassert their dominance, instead they were undone again from another set-piece.
Sean Brennan spotted Tiarnan Mulvenna unmarked from a quickly-taken free and the striker required just one touch before beating Murphy with an exquisite curler.
Still, with Duff always alert, there was plenty of scope for Rovers to mount a comeback.
After letting the manhandling in the box of the former Ireland attacker go during the first half, FAI Cup final referee Dave McKeon adopted a stricter approach nine minutes after the restart when Byrne sent Duff sprawling.
Up stepped North to convert the penalty for their second leveller.
With 15 minutes left, North’s eight goal of the season put the hosts ahead for the first time and condemned Drogs to the drop. He was on hand to pounce after Micheál Schlingermann allowed Brandon Miele’s effort slip from his grasp on the greasy surface.
Two substitutes, Ryan Brennan and Kieran Marty Waters, combined in the 85th minute for the fourth, the latter sprinting clear to finish from 10 yards.
Lee Duffy’s half-volley then reduced the deficit two minutes later but the pinball fare didn’t end there as North bagged his third from the spot in stoppage time, an incident compounded for Drogs by Thornton’s red card.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy; Madden, Kenna, D O'Connor, L Byrne; Cregg (Drennan 66), McPhail (R Brennan 83); McCabe, Duff (Waters 80), Miele; North.
Drogheda United: Schlingermann; Daly, O'Reilly, A Byrne, Marks; Whelan (Duffy 71), Thornton, Hughes, S Brennan (Donnelly 78), Mulvenna (Treacy 60), Pender.
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
