KEVIN DOHERTY felt people were looking down on his Drogheda United team at the start of the season – now they are looking down on everyone from the top of the league.
Warren Davis’ wonderstrike after four minutes and a fourth clean sheet in five games earned the Drogs a win over champions Shelbourne to move them into top spot.
It is early days and no one connected with the Drogs will be getting carried away.
But just a month after boss Doherty hit out at everyone – because everyone did tip them to struggle – he had a right to punch to the air in delight at full-time.
He said a month ago: “I’m sick of saying it already, but before a ball was kicked everyone was writing us off, everyone.
“At times it’s as if we have never played a game before, me and Daire (Doyle, assistant) have never managed before, like we’ve never been successful before.”
His side won the FAI Cup last year while staying in the Premier Division via a play-off, and have started the season with the same form.
They have now won three and drawn two, and conceded just one goal, because they take their chances and give away very little.
Shelbourne went into the game with injury problems in defence, but a strong midfield with five attackers sprung from the bench.
But there was no way through on a frustrating night for the Reds as the Drogs took their early chance and never looked back.
And Davis’ opener was a beaut.
He chased Evan Caffrey – a midfielder playing right back because of Shels’ injury problems – and outmuscled him to win possession just outside the left hand corner of the area.
And from there, it was all about skill as he turned in field, slipped the ball beyond Harry Wood and hit a lovely curling effort just inside Conor Kearns’ far post.
Shels did not panic but found it frustrating as the Drogs retreated, kept their shape, and ensured Luke Dennison was not overworked.
Kerr McInroy fired narrowly wide before Davis’ opener and later had an effort that he kicked into the ground headed clear inside the six-yard box by Ryan Brennan.
Ellis Chapman was also close to turning in a Harry Wood cross while there were several other shots from distance blocked.
Chapman had further chances after the break when Shelbourne moved midfielder Mark Coyle to centre half and began to take more control.
He was denied by a brilliant save from Dennison when he latched onto a Seán Boyd knockdown and later nearly beat the goalkeeper with a cross-shot.
But the Drogs were dangerous on the break to keep Shelbourne on their toes as Davis shot into the side netting on the counter attack.
Boyd, too, went close early in the second half when he glided a Mipo Odubeko cross narrowly wide.
Yet a Shels equaliser looked more likely that a Drogs second as the minutes ticked by and the Reds laid siege to the visitors box.
Ali Coote and McInroy had shots off target and there were moments when the ball pinged around the Drogs penalty area with shots blocked or crosses cleared.
The fourth official indicated there would be five minutes’ injury time, though the referee ended up playing six-and-a-half as the Drogs backline held firm.
Shelbourne 0
Drogheda United 1 (Davis 4)
Sun Star Man – Conor Keeley (Drogheda United)
Shelbourne: Kearns 6; Caffrey 5 (O’Kane 71, 6), Barrett 7, Ledwidge 6, Norris 5 (Tulloch ht, 6); Wood 6 (Coote 60, 6), Coyle 6, McInroy 7, Chapman 7 (Lunney 71, 6); Boyd 6, Odubeko 5 (Martin 60, 6).
Drogheda United: Dennison 7; Quinn 8, Keeley 8, Cooper 7; Lambe 8, Brennan 7 (Cronin 90, 6), Farrell 7 (Heeney 68, 6), Kane 7; Markey 7; Oluwa 7 (Bawa 73, 6), Davis 8.
Referee: D MacGraith (Mayo) 5.
