St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 1 Drogheda United

• Philip O'Rourke
• Fri, Apr 09 2010


Drogheda United upset the odds with a dramatic late winner in the last minute of stoppage time to beat Airtricity League leaders St Pats at Richmond Park.

The game started off very scrappy with both sides giving away possession cheaply.

The first chance of the game fell to Drogheda when Robbie Martin shot at the Saints goal. It was the visitors who created another chance in the 17th minute when Jamie Duffy drilled a shot just wide of the post.

St Pats weren’t playing like the league leaders at all and failed to get the ball down and pass it around. It wasn’t until the 25th minute when they created their first real chance of the game. Brian Cash found himself free 10 yards out but he could only blaze over the bar.

The visitors could only punt long balls into the box and Pats keeper Gary Rogers caught everything that came his way. Robbie Martin tested the player of the month but Rogers easily saved.

The Saints only other chance of the half came in the 43rd minute when Damien Lynch played a ball across the box to Ryan Guy but he could only find the side netting.

The second half started like the first with both sides giving the ball away needlessly and creating very little.

It wasn’t until the 53rd minute when a dreadful back pass from St Pats Connor Kenna let in Glen Fitzpatrick but the Drogheda forward’s attempt to round Rogers failed as the Saints keeper just cleared the ball.

Paul Byrne, who did very little throughout the match, had a chance to open the scoring but headed straight into the arms of Paul Murphy.

The home crowd were growing restless as the game went on while the Drogheda fans made all the noise at Richmond Park. They were nearly silenced when Derek Pender played a through ball to Guy but Alan McNally made a great challenge to deny him from scoring.

It was all St Pats and they nearly made the pressure count but Stuart Byrne headed wide from a corner.

Just as it looked like the Saints were going to keep another clean sheet and play out their second consecutive scoreless draw at home Drogheda were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the home side’s box in the 3rd minute of added time. Eoghan Osbourne stepped up and curled it past the helpless Rogers to send the visiting fans crazy as he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with them.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Gary Rogers, Derek Pender, Damien Lynch, Connor Kenna, Shane Guthrie, Ryan Guy, Brian Cash( Gareth Coghlan 72), Stuart Byrne, Paul Byrne, Vinny Faherty(Alex Williams 81), David Mulcahy.
Subs Not Used: David McAllister, Noel Haverty, Dan Connor

Drogheda United: Paul Murphy, Alan McNally, Jamie Duffy(John Flood 83), Robbie Martin(Eric McGill 89), Paul Crowley, Eoghan Osbourne, Gareth O Connor, Jamie Harris, Mick Daly, Brian King, Glen Fitzpatrick
Subs Not Used: Paul Skinner, Corey Treacy, Ryan Brennan

Referee: Richie Winter
Assistance Referee: Mark Douglas & Rhona Daly
Extratime Man of The Match: Eoghan Osbourne