Hard-working Drogs too good for league leaders

DROGHEDA United Under-15s travelled to Blanch IT on Saturday afternoon and came back with all three points after a close game against the league leaders St Pat’s.

The Drogs were not flattered by this victory as they took their chances when they came and in the end it was their superior teamwork and commitment which saw them through.

After the morning’s incessant rain, the pitch was in perfect condition and as the sides got to know each other in the opening exchanges it was the Drogs who took the lead after six minutes.

There was some uncertainty in the Pat’s defence and Luke Caffrey took full advantage as he pounced on a poor clearance from the goalkeeper to send a perfect lob into the net for the lead score.

This spurred the home side to put the Drogs midfield and defence under pressure and for the remainder of the first half Pat’s had the majority of possession.

However, the Drogs held firm, with keeper Jack McCarthy in topclass

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 0 DROGHEDA UNITED 2

form and the defence of Nick Palov, John McDonagh and Craig Gray outstanding.

Pat’s were more physical in their approach, but they were unsettled by the early goal and Owen Murphy, Joshua Wall and Aaron Naughton had the skill and tenacity to make better use of the ball when they got possession.

Up front, Francis Campbell held the ball up well and proved a handful for the home defence.

The Drogs went in with a 1-0 lead at half-time and while Pats had plenty of possession in the seocnd half they found it had to pierce the Drogs defence, with McCarthy making some crucial saves.

The telling moment of the match came with 10 minutes to go when a well-directed clearance out of the Drogs defence found Campbell on the left and his through-ball picked out Ruari Kinsella, who beat one defender and rolled the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net to put the Drogs 2-0 up.

The visitors saw out the remainder of the match in comfortable fashion and came away with a fully deserved three points. DROGHEDA UNITED: