St Pat's (5th) 3 (Fahey 16, Maguire 41, Prenderville 64)
Drogheda United (8th) 3 (Myler 14, 34, O'Brien 81)
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Richmond Park, Kick-off 7.45pm
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St Pat’s thirteenth draw of a 27-game season saw them fail to overtake Shamrock Rovers into fourth place in the eircom Premier Division tonight, following their 3-3 draw with eighth-placed Drogheda United at Richmond Park. More importantly though, it ended a two-game losing streak for the Cup runners-up, who are also without a league win since their early September 1-0 victory over Rovers.
However it was Drogheda who opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Andy Myler scrambled home his eleventh strike of the season.
Pat’s midfielder Keith Fahey replied just two minutes later when he curled a 25-yard free kick beyond the despairing dive of United’s Gary Rogers. Myler, who tormented the Pat’s defence throughout, scored for the third time in two games when he slotted home a 34th minute spot kick to regain the lead for Drogheda, following a poor challenge by Saints’ stopper Chris Adamson on Declan O’Brien inside his area.
In an end-to-end tie, not dissimilar to a cup tie, Eamon Collins’ men drew level again just before the break when a left wing cross from David Freeman eluded everyone in the Drogheda box, with a slight deflection from defender Aidan Lynch sending it past Rogers, with Darragh Maguire also claiming to have got the last touch.
Just after the hour mark, a Barry Prenderville header gave Pat’s the lead for the first time in the game at 3-2, but Drogheda proved to have the last word and deservedly claimed what could be an important point when Declan O’Brien slid in on 84 minutes to flick a through ball past Adamson.
Added to Friday’s 2-0 win over Waterford, it’s been a good week for Paul Doolin’s side who entertain fellow strugglers Derry in a relegation showdown on Saturday night at 02 Park.