Leo Burney’s close-range finish from a Brandon Kavanagh free kick delivered a key away win for Drogheda United. They came from behind to beat Shelbourne 2-1 at Tolka Park, a result that pushes them towards safety and deepens the home side’s relegation worries.
Warren Davis had earlier cancelled out Daniel Kelly’s opener with a strike into the top corner. The victory lifts Drogheda to 34 points from 31 games, consolidating their ninth-place position in the Premier Division.
Early setbacks and a quick response
Shelbourne suffered an early blow when striker Sean Boyd was forced off with an injury after just ten minutes. They took the lead in the 22nd minute, however, as Daniel Kelly fired home from Sean Moore’s assist. Drogheda thought they had conceded earlier when Conor Keeley turned a Kavanagh free kick into his own net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The visitors responded before the break. In the 40th minute, Davis collected a pass and unleashed a powerful shot that flew into the top corner to level the scores. It was his sixth goal of the season across all competitions.
Burney seals the points
Drogheda’s winner arrived just before the hour mark. Brandon Kavanagh delivered another dangerous free kick into the Shelbourne area, and defender Leo Burney was quickest to react, poking the ball home from close range in the 57th minute. Shelbourne pushed for an equaliser late on, but captain Conor Keeley made a vital block to deny Andrew Henry-Francis and preserve the lead.
The final whistle was met with boos from the home support, a reflection of Shelbourne’s precarious position. They are now just two points clear of the promotion-relegation play-off place with six games left. Manager John Russell, who took charge in mid-July, faces a tough task to steer the 2024 champions away from danger.
For Drogheda, the mood was one of clear satisfaction. The win follows a 2-0 victory over Sligo Rovers just three days prior. Their next challenge is a trip to face third-placed Bohemians on Friday. Check the full schedule on our fixtures list. Kevin Doherty, a key figure at the club, was seen celebrating passionately at full-time, punching the air in delight as his side secured back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
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