Five-star Pats too good for Drogheda
DROGHEDA UNITED ST PATS ATH 1 5
THE Drogs Under 17s had a tough task on their hands at a sweltering United Park on Saturday with the visit of League favourites St Pats.
Missing a few regulars through injuries and holidays, the Drogs lined out with what looked to be a solid-looking team, but in the end were overwhelmed by the physicality and skill of the St Pats team.
The visitors were not long in exerting their superiority in the middle of the field and with 13 minutes gone had the ball in the net following a swift attack but the goal was ruled out for Off-side. Twp minutes later the Drogs took the lead when Zack Furey worked the ball well down the right touchline and sent over a brilliant cross from the end line which Kyle Robinson slid to the net.
Pats continued to press and created a number of chances before they deservedly equalised on the half hour, and the visitors rammed home their advantage by adding three more goals before half time. The goals came during a period of Pats dominance and good possession football and at least two of the goals came from poor Drogs defending.
In the second half, the Drogs continued to fight, and they made better use of the limited possession they had, creating a few real goal chances, but the visitors added a fifth goal midway through the half. As time ran out the visitors were awarded and inexplicable penalty to put the tin hat on it as far as the Drogs were concerned.
Although this was a heavy defeat and Coach Riain Wogan will not have been pleased with the result, there were plenty of encouraging performances, from Donovan, Smith & Naughton in the middle of the field and Furey and Anny carried the ball well in attack. DROGHEDA: Jack Carthy, Sam O’Brien (Mohammad Boudiaf), Sere Ogiehor, Nick Pavlov (Conor Gilbert), Kevin Donovan, Aaron Smith (Francis Campbell), Ugo Anny-Nzekwue, Aaron Naughton (Josh Wall), Kyle Robinson (Jack Supple), Jamie Whelan, Zack Furey. Other subs: Sean Martin, Ross Harper, Denis Nicolenko.