Drogheda keep title hopes alive

Drogheda United added further credence to their unlikely title credentials with a 2-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park today to leapfrog the Inchicore side into second in the table, six points behind leaders Sligo Rovers.

Drogheda were gifted the lead on 10 minutes when St Pat’s goalkeeper Barry Murphy cleared the ball straight to Gavin Brennan who ran in to shoot home.

Stephen O’Flynn was close to equalising for St Pat’s when he rattled the visitors’ crossbar with a shot from distance on 32 minutes.

Drogheda had Ryan Brennan sent off three minutes into the second half for a reckless challenge on James Chambers.

But Peter Hynes doubled Drogheda’s lead on 76 minutes when St Pat’s failed to clear Derek Prendergast’s shot.

Bohemians made eight changes to their starting eleven from the side beaten 5-1 in the Europa League on Thursday as they bounced back to beat UCD 1-0 at Dalymount Park.

Captain Evan McMillan got the only goal of the game on 23 minutes when his downward header from Ryan McEvoy’s corner bounce through to the net.

Bohs had substitute striker Dave Scully, who scored their only goal in Iceland, sent off following an off the ball incident with UCD defender David O’Connor on 75 minutes.