St Patricks Athletic 0 - 1 Drogheda United

A second-half Paul Keegan free-kick saw Saint Patrick’s Athletic lose further ground on Bohemians in the race for the eircom League of Ireland Premier Division title, as outgoing champions Drogheda United took all three points away from Richmond Park with a 1-0 win on Sunday evening. Under pressure after Bohs shot seven points clear 48 hours earlier, Pats were unable to break down the Boynesiders after Keegan’s strike, and they now lie what even at this stage looks an unassailable seven points behind.

In a largely uninspiring first-half, it was the Saints who held most of the possession and who came closest to finding a lead goal. Winger Ryan Guy was busy down the right, and his effort on 18 minutes narrowly missed the bottom corner of Jamie Ewings’ goal. Within the next phase of play, Pats again created a clear opening, however, Mark Quigley’s well placed header was pushed away by the Drogheda netminder. Just after the break, though, and totally against the run of play, Keegan’s poorly defended free-kick from the left found its way into the net.

After a quiet opening to the match, just past the quarter-hour, the home side almost broke the deadlock. A wonderful 50-yard cross-field ball from Keith Fahey set Guy free down the right. However, after cutting inside, the American winger saw his curling effort from inside the area go agonisingly wide of Ewings’ far post. Seconds later, Pats thought they had taken the lead. Star striker Quigley found himself free inside the area, however, his goal-bound header was brilliantly kept out by the fingertips of Ewings.

Showing effects of their midweek Champions League trip to Kiev - highlighted by two substitutions in the first 35 minutes - Drogheda struggled to settle into the game, with Saints goalkeeper Barry Ryan untested until five minutes before the break. Ibrahima Thiam Iyane picked up possession 30-yards from goal, and, with nothing else on, he unleashed a long-range effort which Ryan did well to hold. At the other end, a minute before the break, Guy beat Ewings to the ball outside the area, however, with his back to goal out wide, an audacious overhead kick went wayward.

Following the interval, Drogheda surprisingly took the lead with their first real meaningful shot on target. Ex-Drogs defender Damian Lynch committed the foul out on the left, and Keegan’s resulting free-kick found its way past a host of bodies in the box and into the net. Two minutes later, it was almost 2-0. Ollie Cahill shaped well outside the area, however, his goal-bound effort was superbly pushed behind by a full-length save from Ryan. Rocked by that goal, the hosts struggled to get back into it, with manager Johnny McDonnell forced to make a double substitution just before the hour as both John Murphy and Jaroslaw Bialek entered the fray.

However, it made little difference. Moments after that introduction, Drogs again nearly doubled their advantage. Cahill was again involved as he broke down the left and easily beat Lynch before pulling the ball back for the in-rushing Adam Hughes. However, the Australian midfielder’s powerful effort was blocked away by the covering Pat’s defence. With just under twenty minutes remaining, the Saints were denied by another fine Ewings save, as Fahey’s 30-yard thunderbolt was palmed away by the Scottish ‘keeper.

Soon after, Pats should have equalised. Fahey’s wonderfully delivered free-kick was met in the six-yard box by the head of defender Stephen Paisley. However, he inexplicably sent his effort over the bar when it seemed easier to score. A late, late chip by Fahey over the visiting backline almost put Quigley through on goal, however, a vital touch by Gartland deprived the striker of what surely would have been the leveller, as Drogheda held out for an impressive win.

Pats, despite sitting in second place in the standings, are now seven points behind leaders Bohemians, who also have a game in hand. The two face-off at Dalymount Park in just over a fortnight’s time, and, on current form, it’s likely that the destination of this year’s Premier Division trophy will be more or less decided by the end of this month.

St Patrick's Athletic: Barry Ryan; Damian Lynch, Jamie Harris, Jason Gavin, Stephen Paisley; Ryan Guy, Gary Dempsey, Keith Fahey, Dessie Byrne (Jaroslaw Bialek 58); Mark Quigley, Glen Fitzpatrick (John Murphy 58).
Subs not used: Lance Friesz (GK), Joe O’Cearuill, Alan Kirby.

Booked: Lynch (48), Fahey (87), Quigley (88), Harris (94).

Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Stuart Byrne, Brian Shelley (Shaun Maher 35), Graham Gartland, Joe Kendrick; Richie Baker, Shane Robinson (Paul Keegan 28), Adam Hughes, Ollie Cahill; Ibrahima Thiam Iyane (Eamon Zayed 67), Faz Kudozovic.
Subs not used: Mikko Vilmunen (GK), Declan O’Brien.

Booked: Thiam Iyane (36), Kendrick (87), Gartland (88).

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,901

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Graham Gartland (Drogheda United).