HOOPS AAR BACK TOP

Greene and Co ease through the gears to knock Drogs off their perch at the summit

- BY MARK McCADDEN

RAPID-FIRE Shamrock Rovers raced to the top of the Premier Division last night.

Facing leaders Drogheda United, it was a frustrating evening for the Hoops until Aaron Greene opened the scoring in the 50th minute.

Lee Grace doubled their lead three minutes later as Drogheda's disciplined defence disintegrated and substitute Rory Gaffney added a third in injury-time.

Up to Greene's opener, the Hoops had little joy in the final third and Graham Burke's missed first-half penalty suggested that their luck might be out.

The ease with which the Boynesiders comfortably soaked up their hosts' pressure made the nature of Rovers' opener all the more surprising.

Drogheda had all 11 players in their half as the ball was cleared down the pitch to home goalkeeper Ed McGinty.

He was 20 yards from his area as he took a touch and then passed it to Grace on his right and, as the centre-half launched the ball forward, Greene could barely believe his good fortune.