Sport

Drogheda run out of steam

St Patrick's Athletic - 3 Drogheda Utd - 0: The pre-match 33 to 1 quote afforded to Drogheda about winning the title accurately…

Paul O'Hehir at Richmond Park
Sat Oct 07 2006 - 01:00

St Patrick's Athletic - 3 Drogheda Utd - 0: The pre-match 33 to 1 quote afforded to Drogheda about winning the title accurately reflected a season that at one stage promised so much but by now has firmly derailed.

Defeat here extinguishes ambitious hopes of featuring in the shake-up but the club wont yet concede defeat in their quest for a Setanta Cup spot. Still, if last night's offering is the yardstick it could prove a slog.

Neither side began particularly impressively, more a case of slumping from the blocks than bolting. But Drogheda, if anything, were a shade more inventive in their approach. Paul Keegan's long-range shot signalled Drogheda's early intent but goalkeeper Barry Ryan gathered at the second time of asking.

After the cagey opening minutes St Patrick's injected life into a contest that became a good deal more open thereafter. Curling 25-yard free-kicks, naturally, tend to do that.

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Keith Fahey, a Drogheda player not so long ago, riled the travelling support with his sweetly struck effort which Dan Connor could not keep out 10 minutes in.

Without suspended skipper Declan O'Brien, the Drogheda attack lacked bite and although Shane Robinson regularly peppered the St Patrick's box with crosses, his target man, Glen Fitzpatrick, was always well smothered. Robinson's attempts to revive his team after the break were commendable but Jason Gavin did neither the winger nor his team-mates favours with his dismissal, for a second yellow, after lunging at Trevor Molloy midway through the half.

To compound the visitors misery, Paul Keegan tucked home unmarked with 10 minutes remaining while substitute Mark Quigley coolly finished the tie off in injury-time.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Murphy, C Foley, Brennan, Frost; Fahey, M Foley, Mulcahy, Rutherford; Molloy, Keegan. Subs: Rooney for M Foley (66), Quigley for Rutherford (76), Fitzpatrick for Keegan (89). Booked: Fahey (31)

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Tyrrell, Gavin, Gartland, Gray; Robinson, Keegan, Lynch, Ristila, Barrett; Fitzpatrick. Subs: Zayed for Fitzpatrick (68), Whelan for Ristila (74). Booked: Gavin (14). Sent off: Gavin (69)

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin)