AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Drogheda Utd 0 St Patrick's Ath 3:THE PUSH for European football by St Patrick's Athletic next season remains firmly on track following this victory over a Drogheda side whose relegation is all but confirmed.
St Patrick’s scored after 14 minutes from a Derek Doyle corner when Ryan Guy headed to the net off the underside of the crossbar. With half an hour gone Danny North sent his shot past United goalkeeper Robert Duggan towards goal but Guy, in an offside position, helped the ball on its way ensuring the goal was ruled out.
St Patrick’s created a couple of good chances early in the second half as Duggan did well to push Guy’s shot to safety and North’s header flew narrowly over the bar. Just short of the hour the visitors doubled the lead when Duggan could only parry Doyle’s strike into the path of North who headed home. Within minutes Drogheda were dealt another blow when Eric McGill lunged two-footed at North and referee Tom Connolly reached for the red card.
St Patrick’s rounded off a sound night’s work with a third goal five minutes from time when Gareth O’Connor’s free from the left ended up in the net.
DROGHEDA UTD:Duggan, Haro (Osborne 73), McNally, McGill, Meenan, McMahon, Crowley, Flood, Harris, Daly (Brennan 67), Fitzpatrick (McNamara 80).
ST PATRICK'S ATH:Rogers, Lynch, Bermingham, Kenna, Haverty, Guy, Mulcahy, North (Byrne 88), McAllister (Stewart 81), O'Connor (O'Brien 88), Doyle.
Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).
Attendance:350
