- Gerard Grimes
- Sat, Jul 29 2017
From Gerard Grimes at United Park.
Christy Fagan’s first half strike was enough to grab all three points for St. Patrick’s Athletic against Droghed United at United Park on Friday night.
It was Drogheda who had the first chance of the game as Sean Russell’s effort from 20 yards rose just over Conor O’Malley’s goal.
The visitors almost hit the front two minutes later as a short corner was played to Kurtis Byrne on the edge of the box but his looping effort hit the upright.
Drogheda were managing to get forward but were failing to test O’Malley, as both Mulhall and Russell fired shots over the bar.
Both teams were at this stage making mistakes at the back. First, Thomas Byrne was gifted the ball inside the Saints half. He broke forward but kept the ball too long and his eventual shot under pressure was weak and easy to save.
From that chance, St. Pat’s were gifted a chance of their own up the other end of the pitch as Lloyd Buckley allowed Fagan in on goal. The striker found space, shot but saw his effort bounce off the underside of the bar only to be eventually be dealt with by Drogheda.
The Saints would hit the front two minutes later however through that man Fagan again. A brilliant long ball from Jordi Balk was played to Conan Byrne on the right. The Pats wide man took on his man, cut the ball across the box to Fagan who made no mistake, tapping home from three yards.
The visitors were dominating as they were allowed too much time and space while on the ball. Liam Buckley’s men bombarded the Drogheda goal in a five-minute spell before half time and had two great chances to double their lead.
First, Conan Byrne played a brilliant ball towards the unmarked Kurtis Byrne but the latter failed to connect properly with the ball, allowing Drogheda to temporarily clear.
The visitors went closer again a minute later as Billy Dennehy plays a superb cross to Conan Byrne at the back post but he saw his header cleared off the line off the line by Lloyd Buckley.
Pats had the first chances of the second half from two early corners with Kurtis Byrne coming closest with an effort at the near post. Drogheda had come out brighter and were creating half chances with Chris Mulhall having two efforts blocked.
St. Pat’s still looked comfortable despite Drogheda’s improvement and were denied a second goal with 20 minutes to play when an unmarked Conan Byrne had his effort save at point blank range by Stephen McGuinness.
The Boynesiders looked to press again late and had a chance to level it in the last minute but Adam Wixted’s volley was palmed away by a stunning save from Pats keeper Conor O’Malley to leave United rooted at the bottom four points behind Sligo Rovers above them.
Pats held on for their third victory on the bounce while it is now fourteen games without a win for Drogheda.
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Colm Deasy (Shane Elworthy 36), Lloyd Buckley, Luke Gallagher (C), Conor Kane; Ryan McEvoy, Jack Bayly (Sean Brennan 73), Sean Russell (Adam Wixted 76), Jake Hyland; Thomas Byrne, Chris Mulhall.
Subs not used: Ryan Coulter (gk), Stephen Dunne, Jamie Hollywood, Stephen Meaney.
Booked: Thomas Byrne (64), Luke Gallagher (87).
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Conor O’Malley, Michael Barker, Jordi Balk, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham (C); Conan Byrne, Graham Kelly, Killian Brennan, Billy Dennehy; Kurtis Byrne (Darragh Markey 82), Christy Fagan (Josh O’Hanlon 83).
Subs not used: Barry Murphy (gk), JJ Lunney, Rory Feely, Alex O’Hanlon, Ian Turner.
Booked: Darragh Markey (90+3).
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Attendance: 850 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Conan Byrne (St. Patrick’s Athletic).
