St Patrick’s Athletic 2
Drogheda United 2
A LEE DUFFY penalty earned Drogheda United just a second point in seven games tonight against a St Patrick’s Athletic side who were looking to kick on from their win over Bohemians on Friday.
Drogheda travelled to Richmond Park having conceded 13 goals against the Saints last season, and they were certainly under the cosh for the first half an hour.
Both James Chambers and Lee Desmond sent speculative efforts over the United crossbar, while Ian Bermingham and Aaron Greene were threatening from the left side.
However, they were left frustrated by the travelling defence, and when Jason Marks lofted his corner-kick to the back post with 33 minutes on the clock, 18-year-old Lloyd Buckley bundled the ball over the line, silencing the home crowd.
Marks had raced clear of the Pat’s backline before that, scuffing his strike with only Clarke to beat, but it was the homeside who had dominated.
And they were eventually rewarded for their endeavour when Bermingham delivered from the left for Conan Byrne to head in, adding to his goal against Longford this season.
In the second half they continued to dominate the ball, and scored their second on the hour mark when Ciaran Kilduff, who had been absent from the game up until that point, converted from close range after Sean Thornton fluffed his clearance.
Pat’s had several further chances to add to their narrow lead through Kilduff, Greene and Brennan, but never did, and when Daryl Kavanagh went down under the challenge of Lee Desmond with seven minutes to play, referee Robert Harvey pointed to the spot.
Duffy, on as a substitute, duly converted the penalty, and despite a huge amount of St Pat’s pressure in the closing minutes, Drogheda held on to take a vital point.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Conor O’Malley, Ger O’Brien, Kenny Browne, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham, Conan Byrne (Morgan Langley, 65), Christ Forrester (Greg Bolger, 78), James Chambers (Jamie McGrath, 86), Killian Brennan, Aaron Greene, Ciaran Kilduff.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Michael Schlingermann, Joe Gorman, Mick Daly, Sam McGowan, Sean Thornton (Mark Hughes, 65), Alan Byrne, Cathal Brady, Tiarnan Mulvenna (Lee Duffy, 65), Lloyd Buckley, Daryl Kavangah, Jason Marks (Karl Walsh, 78).
Man of the match: Michael Schlingermann
Referee: Robert Harvey
