Battling Drogs are undone by Darius’ team
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 4 DROGHEDA UNITED 2
FORMER Drogheda United manager Darius Kierans masterminded this St Patrick’s Athletic victory over a battling Drogheda United in the SSE Airtricity Under-19 League Northern Division at Blanchardstown on Sunday afternoon.
In windy conditions the Drogs started well against their fancied opponents and brought the game to Pats. After 20 minutes Levi Boardman, who had a good game all the way through, dispossessed a Pats defender and beat the keeper, but saw his shot go agonisingly wide of the empty net.
Ten minutes later, the Drogs hesitated in their own box, and although a Pats player seemed to play the ball with his hand the whistle never went and Pats duly took the lead.
John Barry was unlucky not to equalise from a corner a few minutes later and the Drogs went in 1-0 down at half-time.
Facing the strong breeze in the second period, the Drogs found it hard to get out of their own half, but they forced a corner on 63 minutes and when the Pats defence failed to clear the ball Ryan Harte stabbed the ball home from close range for the equaliser.
On 75 minutes Pats regained the lead again following a slick move down the middle, but a minute after that the Drogs scored a brilliant equaliser when a great crossfield pass from the right found Dylan Cullotty on the left.
He picked out John Barry with a great flick and Barry’s looping cross was sent to the net by Boardman.
Alas, the flurry of goals continued - at the other end - as Pats edged 3-2 ahead on 81 minutes before adding a fourth late on.
The Drogs have home advantage this coming Saturday when they host Cavan/Monaghan in the first round of the Shield competition. DROGHEDA UNITED: Daniel Grace, Tom Adeyinka (Kyle Robinson), Levi Boardman, Luke Ring, John Barry, Ryan Harte, Sean Trimble, Lee McKevitt, Leo Tang (Dylan Cullotty), Oisin Prendergast (Sean Cronin), Eoin McPhillips (Frank Cabraley). Subs: Ben Murphy, Kyle Robinson, Jordan Adeyemo.