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Drogheda United -v- St Patrick's Athletic
- Emmet Maloney
- Thu, Jun 16 2011
Drogheda United host the Premier League’s form team when they entertain St Patrick’s Athletic at Hunky Dorys Park on Friday night. (Kick off, 7.45pm)
The Louth team will be hoping their own recently discovered form can carry them to a positive result and it will be some measure of their progress if they manage to get something from this game.
After a terrible start to the season Drogheda have at last started to get the results that their manager Mick Cooke believed were well overdue. “The lads have been putting in a huge effort over the last five weeks”, Cooke told the club website, “and they really have worked for these wins. All season we have been close to getting something but it never happens, and now finally we are getting somewhere."
Recent victories over Galway, Mervue and Dundalk have certainly boosted confidence around the South Louth venue but they will have to reach a whole higher level to get anything from this game. "St Pats are one of the form sides in the league”, said Cooke, “They are obviously fighting for top spot while we are looking to move further away from Galway and closer to UCD. But we have come into some form and we will be putting it up to Pats that's for sure."
The good news for Mick is that apart from Jack Flynn he has a full panel to pick from and will have ex Dundalk recruit Mulvenna to call on as well. “The introduction of Tiernan Mulvenna last week opened a few eyes and he was fantastic for us, but I have always rated him and he is someone I've been watching since I was at Monaghan. There are a few players from the North training with us, but they won't be available to move until the 1st of July."
Pats boast the League’s best form and come into the match on the back of an 11 match unbeaten run and haven’t been beaten away from Inchicore since Sligo Rovers beat them 2-0 back on the 9th of April. Pete Mahon is taking nothing for granted with the short trip north as he told the club website. “It’s going to be a tough match up in Drogheda as they are on a decent run in their last few games. They’ll see this as a winnable match and we’ll have to safeguard against any complacency creeping in. If we play well it is a winnable match for us also and if we play like we played in the second half in Dundalk then we’ll give ourselves a great chance of picking up three points”.
If Pats win and in the unlikely circumstance that Shamrock Rovers lose against Galway they will go level with their rivals at the top of the league on points but still trailing on goal difference. “The win on Monday kept us in touch with the top of the table and I’ve been saying for the past few weeks that the most important thing is stay within touching distance and give ourselves a chance.”
Pats are still missing bodies and will be waiting for news on Evan McMillan and Brian Shortall, with Connor Kenna and Derek Pender still definitely out.
Drogheda United:
Injured: Jack Flynn.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
St Patricks Athletic:
Injured: Connor Kenna (knee), Derek Pender (foot).
Doubtful: Evan McMillan (calf), Brian Shortall (virus).
Suspended: None.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Paddypower.com Odds: Drogheda 6/1; Draw 3/1; St Patrick’s 4/9.
Extratime.ie Prediction: Pats to win 2-1.
About Emmet Maloney
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