Healy and Honohan on target in Shamrock Rovers win

A week for the ages for Shamrock Rovers concluded with a 2-1 home win over Drogheda United as the Hoops edged closer to another league crown.

Matt Healy's fine strike on 31 minutes saw the game open up in a major way, and the similarly outstanding Josh Honohan ultimately made sure of the points with a curling effort of his own with 20 minutes to go.

But, of course, you are never really certain when Drogheda are the opposition. Conor Keeley, who had already had two efforts saved, coolly tapped home on 83 minutes, shortly after Rovers had emptied their bench. But, like on Thursday, the Hoops held on, rendering almost inevitable another league title, with so much more to look forward to besides.

It's been a frustrating time for Drogs, following on from the last-gasp concession against Saint Patrick's Athletic, and on another night here they may have gotten something – but they face a hell of a challenge to secure European football in 2026.

After the heroics of overcoming Portugal's Santa Clara on Thursday and having another go at the Conference League group stages, this had a far more serene feel, with the Drogheda fans making most of the noise in a small crowd of 3,216 fans that included Shane Lowry.

With Rovers set to win the title – bar an unfathomable collapse – Drogheda, who had lost only six times in the league going into the game, would have fancied the prospect of getting something.

Graham Burke, Adam Matthews, Michael Noonan and Aaron McEneff all came in for the Hoops, with Drogheda happy to flood their own half out of possession, but with good counter-attacking talent when so required.

The first half-hour was at best forgettable, with Healy's passing an admirable exception, but Drogheda offered nothing and Rovers were content to keep working the ball until Healy stamped his class on 31 minutes.

Another Drogheda block from a Michael Noonan run spilled to Healy, who worked his foot around the ball to curl away from Luke Dennison.

Drogs had their first half-opening when Dan Cleary's throw-in allowed Darragh Markey a chance to shoot but Ed McGinty – the hero on Thursday with a brilliant second-half save – was not troubled.

Neither was Dennison from a long-range Burke drive 39 minutes into a first half that improved towards the end, Burke's backheel feeding Matthews, whose cross was headed straight at Dennison by Josh Honohan.

And it was Honohan, in a move reminiscent of his effort against Santa Clara that hit the crossbar from a similar area, who forced a fine Dennison save in the last minute, with Drogs pleading for half-time.

Then Aaron McEneff fired wide when given too much space on the whistle.

Thomas Oluwa struggled and he was replaced by Fuhad Kareem at the break as Kevin Doherty tried to arrest the tide.

Andrew Quinn nearly put Owen Lambe in after just a minute, the Drogs fans gaining hope.

Darragh Nugent had masses of space but Noonan failed to find him and the game was suddenly far more of a hit in the entertainment stakes.

Darragh Markey curled a teasing ball into the area on 52 minutes. Given his goals record this season, one might have expected more power from Keeley's header, but Drogs were on the up regardless.

Burke found space to force Dennison down low to his right. Within a minute, he looked to have Dennison stranded to the spot, but his effort tailed off wide.

For all the world, Burke looked nearly sure to score on 58 minutes. Played in by Dan Cleary, he had no defender within sight, but eventually his fierce drive was blocked out for a corner.

Quite how Drogheda did not score on 59 minutes owes much to Pico Lopes – imperious against the Portuguese on Thursday – but clearly Warren Davis should have netted. Matthews' back-pass was far too weak and, with Davis composed and seemingly just about to tap in, Lopes fashioned a Hail Mary block that denied a certain goal.

If the first half-hour were a borefest, the remainder was excellent, with the pace of Kareem exposing Rovers, only for McGinty to make a brave block at the edge of the box on 63 minutes.

Burke and Noonan combined sweetly on 70 minutes but this goal was almost all about Honohan, who curled into the corner at the edge of the box, prompting his signature goal celebration.

As he departed the pitch shortly afterwards for Arsenal-bound Victor Ozhianvuna, the applause was split to honour both.

Keeley had another header to make things interesting on 75 minutes but again McGinty, who has had the best run of his time at Shamrock Rovers, was equal to it.

Markey refused to give in and both he and Keeley deserved the latter's goal from the former's cross with seven minutes to go, Keeley showing why he has so many goals this season.

Ozhianvuna almost sealed it at the death, the south stand ready to explode again. They have much to look forward to.

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Pico Lopes, Lee Grace; Adam Matthews, Matthew Healy (John McGovern 79), Darragh Nugent, Aaron McEneff (Gary O'Neill 79), Josh Honohan (Victor Ozhianvuna 73); Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 79), Michael Noonan (Cian Barrett 79).

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; James Bolger (Michael Cardo 89), Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan (Paul Doyle 61), Luke Heeney (Shane Farrell 65), Conor Kane; Darragh Markey; Warren Davis (Jack Stretton 65), Thomas Oluwa (Fuhad Kareem 46).

Referee: Aaron O'Dowd.

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