Late Turner winner gives St Pat's full points over Drogheda

LATE WINNER: It was fast becoming one of the most predictable results in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic looked set to play out yet another scoreless draw before Luke Turner’s 94th minute winner claimed victory for the visitors. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (Turner 90+4’)

It was fast becoming one of the most predictable results in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic looked set to play out yet another scoreless draw before Luke Turner’s 94th minute winner claimed victory for the visitors.

One of the many modest improvements at Sullivan & Lambe Park in recent years, has been the addition of a large scoreboard on the clubhouse side of the ground, visible to the majority of the home support in the Crosslanes stand opposite.

Whomever is responsible for operating it however, continued to find themselves grossly underutilised whenever St Patrick’s Athletic come to town. As the clock ticked into injury time, these clubs were staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive scoreless draw.

So frequent have the no-goal stalemates been between Drogheda and St Pat’s, another here would have been a sixth in eight games – with four of them on Boyneside.

No team in the league have drawn more than Drogheda this season and not so long ago, a point against the Saints would have been considered an impressive result for anyone of a claret and blue persuasion. They didn’t even get that in the end and will be bitterly disappointed.

The race for European qualification remains tight however. Stephen Kenny’s side are still in the hunt and with their European interest over for another season, all of their efforts can be concentrated on domestic matters, especially improving their league position.

Another failure to score against Drogheda would not have helped their cause all that much either but Turner’s late, late header stole the points and may have reignited their league campaign.

Pat’s certainly posed more of a threat throughout, for all of their frustrations as they fruitlessly tried to penetrate United’s rearguard. Mason Melia and Brandon Kavanagh forced saves from Luke Dennison, but neither asked too taxing a question.

It was not until Barry Baggley’s strike on the stroke of half time that his goal was seriously at risk. Dennison dived to his right to palm it away. After the break, Pat’s got closer still.

Melia poked an effort wide from a narrow angle and then had a shot blocked at near source by Conor Keeley. From a Kavanagh free kick that wasn’t cleared, captain Joe Redmond dragged a shot wide. That was the chance, for Pat’s at least.

Following a break out of defence led by a driving Andrew Quinn run, Conor Kane drilled a shot straight at Joseph Anang and then Ryan Brennan’s shot was diverted away from goal by Kavanagh. A couple of minutes later, Warren Davis curled an effort against the crossbar.

Drogheda were coming on strong. Josh Thomas had a glimpse of goal too but it looked all set for another goalless finish.

Melia won a corner and Kian Leavy’s delivery flicked up into the air off the teenage striker’s leg. Turner was on hand to nod in his first goal of the season. Cue delirious scenes in a packed away end.

Drogheda United: Dennison; Bolger, Keeley, Quinn; Lambe, Farrell (Heeney, 61), Brennan, Kane; Markey; Thomas (Oluwa, 80), Davis (Kareem, 87).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; McLaughlin, Redmond, Turner, McClelland; Baggley (Robinson, 85), Forrester, Kavanagh (Carty, 82); Power (Mulraney, 72), Melia, Leavy.

Referee: Neil Doyle