Gartland ecstatic after Drogs victory
by Mark May, 24 July 2008
Drogheda United defender Graham Gartland could not hide his delight following his crucial strike in his side’s defeat of Levadia Tallinn in Estonia on Wednesday evening.
The giant centre back popped up in the box just after the restart to bundle home Paul Keegan’s corner kick and secure a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Boynesiders, setting up a mouth-watering tie with Dynamo Kiev in the next round.
And it was all the sweeter for Gartland after his error allowed Levadia grab a vital away goal in the first leg last week.
“It’s gone from the worst week in my career in football to this high,” Gartland told the Irish Daily Mirror.
“I was at rock bottom for a while, particularly after Cork. I came over here with my head in my hands and I didn’t come out of the hotel room for two days.
“I just said ‘right, go back to defending the way I used to when I was younger – just take no chances, head things, clear things and deal with things after that’.
“Yes it’s been a tough week. To pop up with the goal is a bit ironic. But that’s football.”
Drogheda boss Paul Doolin was equally ecstatic after watching his side win both legs in the encounter.
Doolin beamed: “To win both legs was great. When we got the report on them we thought it was going to be a tight game.
“I didn’t think it would be an easy game to win but I felt we were in with a shout.
“I think we showed a lot last week in Dublin, coming back from a goal down. I was wondering if they could come back if they were a goal behind.
“It was great although I think we could have made it a bit easier by taking one or two other chances.
“But, overall, the performance was fantastic and I don’t think we ever looked like being opened up.”