EA Sports Cup Report: Shelbourne 7 - 2 Drogheda United

Jamie Doyle scored a memorable hat-trick as Shelbourne advanced to the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup with an emphatic 7-2 win over Drogheda United at Tolka Park.

Dave Mulcahy, Dayle Rooney, Cian Kavanagh and Shane Farrell also scored for the Reds, while Sean Trimble and William Hondermarck replied for the visitors.

Both teams began the game playing some decent football and attempting to carve out early chances while keeping the ball on the ground.

The opening chance of the game fell to Hondermarck, the Drogs man hitting a wild shot from well outside the box. Lee Steacy was able to watch on as the ball cleared the crossbar.

Shelbourne were settling into the game and looking to create some chances of their own, with Shane Farrell causing plenty of early problems down the right for the home side.

Two quick balls were drilled into the box by Farrell from the right but nobody could get themselves on the other end of them as Shelbourne started to apply the pressure.

The opening goal came after just 20 minutes and was the start of a crazy ten minutes which saw Shelbourne score four goals against a very sloppy Drogheda United defence.

League stalwart Mulcahy was the man to get things started, getting himself on the end of a Rooney cross from the right and powering a free header into the net.

Shels had their second of the night two minutes later. Farrell claimed his second assist of the evening, this time for Rooney to slot home as once again a Shelbourne player was left all on his own in the box.

A nightmare spell for Drogheda got even worse three minutes later with Cian Kavanagh getting in on the act with the coolest finish of the night.

The ball came his way after a Gavin Boyne shot from midfield was deflected into his path. He took his time, rounded the keeper and walked the ball into the net

Drogheda were really on the ropes and the punishment wasn't to stop there. Three became four from the penalty spot after Farrell was bundled over in the box by a clumsy Leo Tang challenge.

Doyle stepped up and slotted the ball calmly and to the right of the keeper to make it 4-0 after 28 minutes.

Thankfully for Drogheda, the game quietened down for a while as Shelbourne were happy to sit back and catch their breath.

Drogheda were limited to a few half chances in the opening half and nothing to really trouble Steacy in goal.

A penalty miss by striker Stephen Meaney in the final minute of the half summed up the away side's opening half.

Just three minutes into the second period, Doyle had his second of the night, tapping home from close range with the ball deflecting off the inside of the post and nestling into the net.

Although the Shelbourne team were much changed from their win against Galway United on Friday night, they once again looked extremely composed and comfortable both in defence and going forward.

Having assisted two goals in the opening half, Farrell got the goal his performance deserved on the hour mark and made it six for the Reds with Drogheda now looking deflated and fed up but still trying to battle hard.

To their credit, they didn’t let their heads drop and got two back inside two minutes through Trimble and Hondermarck as they looked to restore a bit of pride in the score line.

The last kick of the game gave Jamie Doyle his hat-trick and a goal worthy of taking the match ball home in any game.

Doyle showed great vision to see Gratzer off his line from 25 yards out and chip the goalie for the game's ninth goal, as Shels set up a quarter-final trip to Derry City.

Shelbourne: Lee Steacy, James Woods, Reece McEnteer, Dylan Grimes, Dave Mulcahy, Aaran Molloy, Dayle Rooney, Jamie Doyle, Shane Farrell, Cian Kavanagh, Gavin Boyne (James O’Brien 46)

Subs not used: Dean Delaney (gk), Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, James English, Adam Evans, James Brown.

Booked: Jamie Doyle (60).

Drogheda United: Luka Gratzer; Kealon Dillon, Gareth McCaffrey, Stephen Meany, Lloyd Buckley (Colm Deasy 38), William Hodermarck, Jordan Abeyemo, Seam Trimble, Victor Ekanem, Eoin McPhillips, Leo Tang

Subs not used: Lee Duffy, Sean Brennan, Chris Lyons, Ciaran Kelly, Paul Skinner, Richard Purdy.

Booked: Gareth McCaffrey (43).

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 200 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jamie Doyle (Shelbourne).