St Pat’s reignite Euro challenge after easy win

ST PATRICK’S reignited their European challenge with a convincing victory against 10-man Drogheda whose defeat all but consigns them to the First Division.

The Boynesiders might have been expected to give Pete Mahon’s side a harder test under their new manager Bobby Browne, but in truth they were never at the races and Pat’s didn’t have to move out of second gear to secure the points.

The Inchicore got their noses in front from their first corner of the game on 14 minutes. Derek Doyle swung the ball in left-footed from the right-hand side and Ryan Guy ghosted in at the back post to divert a header in off the bar.

The Boynesiders fell further behind after 59 minutes when Daniel North nodded home from close range after Duggan had parried Derek Doyle’s powerful low shot.

And worse was to follow for the Drogs when Eric McGill was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on North right in front of the Pat’s dugout. And Drogheda endured further misery on 85 minutes when Gareth O’Connor’s curling free kick from near the left touchline evaded everyone in the box and landed in the net.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Duggan; E McGill, McNally, Harris, Haro; Meenan, Daly, Crowley, McMahon; Fitzpatrick, Flood. Subs: Brennan for Daly (67), Osborne for Haro (73), McNamara for Fitzpatrick (79).

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Lynch, Kenna, Haverty, Bermingham; McAllister, O’Connor, Mulcahy, Doyle; Guy, North. Subs Stewart for McAllister (81), Byrne for North (87min), O’Brien for O’Connor (88).

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).