Jim Gannon included two former Shamrock Rovers players in his starting eleven against Irish champions Drogheda.

Dane Massey, 19, who has already spent a trial period at Edgeley Park played at left-back with 20-year-old Stephen Nolan leading the attack.

Massey came to County's rescue with a timely clearance after Shane Robinson set up a chance for Guy Bates after six minutes.

Within a minute Bates, who hit the Drogs' championship-winning goal last season, saw a free kick deflected inches wide of Conrad Logan's right-hand post.

It was a lively start from the home side who begin their defence of the eircom championship against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday.

David Poole was first to threaten for County, wearing their popular Blue & Black pre-season strip, when he burst forward and saw a shot deflected wide for a corner on 18 minutes.

The corner was taken shot to Adam Griffin who tested Mikko Vilmunen in the home goal with an angled drive.

Drogheda won another free kick on the edge of the box when Paul Turnbull brought down Carlos Logan.

The former Darlington winger, Shaleum's brother, saw his shot deflected onto the bar. Stuart Byrne's header from the follow up was then headed off the line by Gianluca Havern.

Drogs continued to press and James Smith came in from the right to block the hard-working Adam Hughes.

Ten minutes before the break Greg Tansey brilliantly created space for himself with a clever turn and threaded the ball through to Poole who shot over from the angle of the box.

Five minutes later Massey won the ball in midfield and squared it to the other trialist, Nolan, who brought a diving save out of Vilmunen with a shot from 25 yards.

A loose pass from Tansey presented Bates with the ball. The striker tried to chip Logan from fully 45 yards but the keeper managed to get back to make the save.

In the closing stages County twice came close to breaking the deadlock. James Tunnicliffe saw a header blocked inside the 6-yard box and, from the follow up, Leon McSweeney's shot was deflected for a corner

Half-time: Drogheda 0 County 0

Havern had an early opportunity to give County the lead in the second half. The ball fell kindly to him after a scramble in the box but he side-footed wide.

Drogs responded with a terrific left-wing cross from Ollie Cahill that picked out Richie Baker at the far post. He tried to head the ball back across Logan but the ball just cleared the far post.

Eamon Zayed then brought the ball down on his chest and shot on the turn straight at the grateful Logan.

Nolan relieved the spell of pressure with a long-range shot that cleared the bar.

Drogs were immediately back on the attack, though, and they took the lead just after the hour when Aiden O'Keefe curled a brilliant shot into Logan's top corner.

Jim Gannon made his first substitution on 65 minutes when Paddy Madden, a 17-year-old from top Irish junior club WFTA, replaced Nolan.

O'Keefe should have added a second on 72 minutes but he planted a free header over the bar.

Carlos Logan then set up Zayed at the far post who looked certain to score, Conrad Logan did well to save with his legs.

After 80 minutes Poole intercepted a misplaced pass and raced forward before releasing the ball to Madden. The youngster snatched at his shot, though, and failed to hit the target.

Five minutes from the end a trademark long-range effort from Tansey was just off target.

County were finishing the game strongly and Havern had another chance from Poole's corner that he headed wide.

The Hatters ended the game with ten men after Turnbull limped out of the action with what looked like an ankle injury.

They almost carved out an equaliser, though, when Madden had a shot blocked.

In the final seconds, sub keeper Jamie Ewings made a quite fantastic double save to deny Madden and then McSweeney from the follow up.

County: Logan; Smith, Havern, Tunnicliffe, Massey; Poole, Tansey, Turnbull, McSweeney, Griffin; Nolan (Madden).