Losses must be taken in context
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC DROGHEDA UNITED 1 0
DROGHEDA United will be looking forward to pitting their wits against First Division opposition when the League of Ireland campaign kicks off next week after suffering a fifth straight defeat of pre-season last Friday evening.
However, the results have to be taken into context as the Boynesiders took on five of the top seven Premier Division clubs based on 2019 league positions, and Tim Clancy’s side have been competitive in all the games.
Darragh Markey’s 75th-minute strike separated the teams at Richmond Park in a match that could have gone either way.
Indeed, Drogheda made the brighter start as Chris Lyons cut the ball back to Richie O’Farrell whose low shot from 25 yards was blocked, and then Lyons was off target with a free kick awarded for a foul on O’Farrell.
King was the first player from the home side side to threaten with a 20-yard free kick that was saved by David Odumosu, and Markey - an early substitute for the injured Chris Forrester - then fired just wide from a tight angle before former Drog Luke McNally headed over the bar.
However, it took a brilliant block by midfielder Lennon to deny Drogheda the lead goal on 34 minutes. The move came about following a brilliant run by Conor Kane which led to a free kick in a dangerous area.
Adam Wixted delivered the set-piece to the back post, Jack Tuite headed the ball back across goal, and after Pat’s half-cleared their lines Mark Doyle let fly, only to be foiled by Lennon.
St Pat’s tried to finish the first half with a flourish, but King and Jason McClelland both had shots blocked, the latter a great intervention from Derek Prendergast, before McNally had his header brilliantly saved by Odumosu.
In the second half clear-cut chances were at a premium for both teams, with Doyle and Lyons going closest to breaking the deadlock for the Drogs.
It wasn’t until the 61st minute that Odumosu was called upon at the other end, clutching a Rennie free kick that was destined for the top corner of the net.
But the keeper was finally beaten 15 minutes from time as Markey struck what proved to be the winner for St Pat’s.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: B Clarke; R Feely, L McNally, L Desmond, I Bermingham; J Lennon, R Benson, C Forrester; B King, J McClelland, M Rennie. DROGHEDA UNITED: D Odumosu; J Brown, J Tuite, D Prendergast, C Kane; M Hughes, J Hyland, OR ’Farrell, A Wixted, C Lyons, M Doyle.
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