Brave Drogs hold Saints

Having scored five against champions Shamrock Rovers last week, St Patrick’s left their shooting boots behind as they were held by Drogheda at Hunky Dorys Park.

This game pitted unbeaten Pats with a Drogheda side who had won their last five games in league and cup, but it was the visitors who started brighter as Jake Kelly dragged a 15-yard shot in the third minute.

The Saints manufactured a decent chance on 23 minutes, James Chambers meeting Christy Fagan’s cross but looping his header over the bar.

Greg Bolger had a similar chance a minute later for the visitors, before Drogheda threatened for the first time when Derek Prendergast headed a Sean Brennan corner straight into the hands of keeper Brendan Clarke.

The home defence were being stretched and Pat’s opened them up again in the 28th minute when Kenny Browne released Fagan in the box but he pulled his shot badly across goal.

Saints continued to run the game in the second half, Forrester forcing Sava into a save and dragging another two efforts wide.

The visitors also had half-hearted claims for a penalty for handball when a Fagan shot was blocked amid a crowd of bodies.

In the 85th minute Drogs almost snatched it, Shane Grimes overlapped Gavin Brennan and delivered a low cross for Tiarnan Mulvenna whose shot from 12 yards bounced off the inside of the post and away to safety.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Sava; Quigley, McNally, Prendergast, Grimes; Foley, Gannon, G Brennan; S Brennan; Mulvenna, D O’Brien. Subs: M O’Brien for S Brennan (74min), Hynes for D O’Brien (83min), Breen for Mulvenna (90 +1).

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O’Brien, Kenna, Browne, Bermingham; Forrester, Chambers, Bolger, Russell, J Kelly; Fagan. Subs: D Kelly for J Kelly (63min), Meenan for Russell (82min), Daly for Fagan (85min).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).