Drogheda United feeling travel sick after missed opportunities against St Patrick’s Athletic

DROGHEDA UNITED 0

Drogheda United’s long wait for an away victory increased to 10 games after they suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of St Pat’s at Richmond Park on Friday night.

Dayle Rooney scored a superb winner at the same venue when the Boynesiders last picked up three points on their travels back in September, but since then they’ve drawn three and lost the other seven away games.

A spirited second-half display almost yielded what would have been a valuable equaliser, but after some encouraging attacking displays in recent weeks Drogheda wasted a number of great scoring opportunities and St Pat’s held on for a hard-earned victory.

The early signs weren’t good as the Boynesiders were pinned back and had only 29% of the possession in the opening quarter.

Keeper Jethren Barr saved one angled shot by Ruairi Keating, while Evan Weir blocked a Luke Turner effort and two other attempts from Keating and Anto Breslin flew wide of the target.

At the other end Weir arrowed a free kick over the bar after former Drog Conor Keeley had been booked for bringing down Warren Davis in full flight. However, it was proving to be a frustrating night for Frantz Pierrot and four fouls in the first 21 minutes saw him yellow-carded by referee Declan Toland, while Ryan Brennan and Luke Heeney were fortunate to escape a booking for late tackles.

It was Brennan’s error that led to a shooting chance for Chris Forrester in the 32nd minute, but Gary Deegan intervened to make a vital block and Forrester then ballooned another attempt over the bar after being teed up by Ardee native Kian Leavy.

Coming up to half-time the Drogs staged a mini rally and Hayden Cann headed just over the bar from a Weir free kick before Brennan’s low shot was blocked behind for a corner kick.

However, with just seconds left of additional time the opening goal arrived at the other end of the field. Keating collected a long headed clearance, shrugged off Andrew Quinn’s challenge and exchanged passes with Brandon Kavanagh before stepping inside Cann and slotting home from eight yards.

In the opening moments of the second half Forrester dribbled menacingly towards the penalty area before seeing his shot blocked, but the Boynesiders were desperately unlucky not to draw level in the 47th minute.

Weir’s inswinging corner kick was on the money and Quinn rose highest and headed against the inside of the post, before Pierrot scuffed his shot wide from the rebound.

Twice Kavanagh was denied by Barr at the other end and Aaron Bolger blazed over the bar, but this was an even contest now and on 58 minutes Brennan had a header tipped round the post by Danny Rogers from a Heeney cross after Pierrot and Darragh Markey had combined to start the attack.

There was pandemonium from the resulting corner kick as Adam Foley’s shot was blocked down amid claims for a penalty for hand-ball against Turner, before Cann hit a fresh air shot and Quinn blazed over the bar from 10 yards.

A minute later Brennan saw another mid-range shot blocked in the crowded box and Davis then fired straight at Rogers from similar range.

It was Drogheda’s turn to benefit from a penalty shout on 63 minutes as Cann threw himself at a goal-bound Nolan shot and Pats claimed the defender had used his arm, but referee Declan Toland wasn’t convinced.

Markey was becoming more influential in the latter stages and after winning possession in a 50/50 with Kavanagh he teed up Davis who pulled his shot just the wrong side of the upright.

Barr saved from Forrester at the other end after a pinpoint cross by Jake Mulraney, but in the final 10 minutes Pats rode their luck.

Substitute Zishim Bawa turned sharply and fired straight at Rogers, and then in the last minute of stoppage time Drogheda should have snatched a precious point.

Weir’s long clearance was flicked on by Bawa and Pierrot and Deegan then combined to move the ball right to Heeney.

His deep cross was volleyed goalwards by Bawa and the unmarked Pierrot - inside the six-yard box - fluffed his header as he attempted to steer it past Rogers.

St Patrick’s: Danny Rogers 7; Ryan McLaughlin 6 (Kieran Freeman 62min, 6), Conor Keeley 7, Luke Turner 7, Anto Breslin 7; Aaron Bolger 7, Chris Forrester 7; Brandon Kavanagh 7 (Mason Melia 84min), Kian Leavy 7 (Romal Palmer 74min, 6), Alex Nolan 8 (Jake Mulraney 74min, 7); Ruairi Keating 7. Subs not used: Alfie Taylor, Aaran Pettifer, Jason McClelland, Cian Kavanagh, Marcelo Pitaluga.

Drogheda United: Jethren Barr 8; Luke Heeney 6, Hayden Cann 6, Andrew Quinn 6, Evan Weir 7; Gary Deegan 7, Ryan Brennan 7; Adam Foley 7 (Zishim Bawa 67min, 7), Darragh Markey 6, Warren Davis 7; Frantz Pierrot 5. Subs not used: Matthew O’Brien, David Webster, Aaron McNally, Conor Kane, Oisin Gallagher, James Byrne, Killian Cailloce, Andrew Wogan.

Attendance: 3,765