Drogheda’s losing streak ends with St Pats stalemate

The point doesn’t do much for Stephen Kenny, who has only one victory in seven league games now. His team sit eighth and all of the teams around them have, at least, two games in hand

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024 - 22:17

Barry Landy

LOI Premier Division: Drogheda United 0 St Pat's 0

There was a stalemate at United Park for the second straight meeting of Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic. Just as Jon Daly’s team couldn’t find a victory against Drogheda, nor could a Pat’s team under new management.

The point doesn’t do much for Stephen Kenny, who has only one victory in seven league games now. His team sit eighth and all of the teams around them have, at least, two games in hand.

For Drogheda, at least, they have stopped the rot. It had well and truly set in after four consecutive defeats saw them drop to the foot of the table as near neighbours Dundalk’s upturn in form upended things at the bottom.

This clean sheet was their first shutout in 13 games, dating all the way back to April 1. Their predicament is no joke but the performance here will give Kevin Doherty confidence his team have what it takes to turn their fortunes around.

The home side created enough to claim all three points, with Adam Foley, Ryan Brennan, Zishim Bawa, Conor Kane and Jack Keaney all having clear sights at goal either side of the half-time whistle.

The Saints best opportunities had come early. Andrew Wogan, who has been busy this week sitting his Leaving Cert exams at Ardee Community School, denied Ruairi Keating with a good save down to his left.

Jake Mulraney pulled an effort just wide of the upright, when played in by Chris Forrester. The cross was behind the attacker but his improvised flick almost found the net.

Kenny lost both Ryan McLaughlin and Joe Redmond to injury, while Conor Keeley was replaced at the break too. By the end of the game, Jamie Lennon and Jamie McClelland were pressed into action at right and left back respectively.

Keaney’s shot was Drogheda’s best opportunity, coming at the end of a spell of incessant pressure on the visitors’ goal. After his strike against Sligo last Monday, United fears were expectant, but it was wide.

Brennan met an Evan Weir free kick at the back post but his header was the wrong side of the upright. At the other end, Lennon didn’t trouble the goalkeeper with a guilt edged chance. Bawa’s injury time was off-target too.

These were two teams who are, as the table suggests, desperate for a win. It didn’t particularly look like that for large parts. A draw is better for the Boynesiders in any case.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Wogan; Heeney, Quinn, Keaney, Kane; O’Brien, Brennan (Davis, 85); Foley (Pierrot, 79), Markey, Weir; Bawa.

ST PATS: Rogers; McLaughlin (Bolger, 31) Keeley (Grivosti, 46), Redmond (McClelland, 66), Turner; Lennon, Forrester, Leavy; Mulraney, Keating (C Kavanagh, 74), Melia (Nolan, 74).

Referee: Declan Toland