18' Gary Deegan
19' Chris Lyons
Jamie Lennon 22'
Ronan Coughlan 59'
1-0
1-1
69' Dinny Corcoran
Lee Desmond 82'
Billy King 90'
2-1
Assistants: Darragh Keegan
Assistants: Wayne McDonnell
Fourth Official: Damien MacGraith
Referee: John McLoughlin

Video

Details

Date Time League Season
27 March 2021 4:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

St. Pat’s Hail Their King

Billy King was the hero as his injury time winner meant all three league points stayed in Richmond Park after Drogheda United thought they had done enough to secure a draw in their SSE Airtricity League clash this afternoon.

138 days after the last game played at the ground, Richmond Park was the arena for today's visit of the Drog's to Inchicore. The hosts came into the second round of games after a solid performance a week ago against Shamrock Rovers as the newly promoted First Division champions arrived at Inchicore off the back of winning their season opening clash with Waterford.

With several moments of dominance for both teams, with a slight advantage for the home side, St. Patrick’s smiled at the end as Billy King's heroic late goal guaranteed the three points. Especially after a mistake from their goalkeeper Jaros had allowed Drogheda to level matters in the final quarter hour.

The windy afternoon at Inchicore saw the Saints dominate the early stages. A couple of good opportunities by Matthew Smith and Ronan Coughlan tested the Drogheda goalkeeper and with just six minutes on the board, Jason McClelland came close to change the score with a shot drilled into the side netting.

Most of the game was happening deep inside Drogheda’s territory with Pat's controlling possession and keeper Jaros playing a spectator's role. 

The Drogs managed to balance the scale and hold the opponent’s momentum and even came forward in the sixteenth minute as Darragh Markey whipped in a cross, finding Mark Doyle inside the box but his finish went over Jaros’ bar. After the half hour, the chances dried up while the intensity of the game dropped considerably.

Stephen O'Donnell's men came back stronger after the break and got the biggest chance to score so far inside the first 60 seconds as Robbie Benson was unable to finish from inside the six-yard box after brilliant work from Matty Smith.

The Scottish forward came back from the changing rooms with a new vigour, creating opportunities as Odumosu, in the Drogheda goal was forced into action to stop a low drilled shot from the tricky winger.

After so many opportunities Pat's finally hit the target. Just over the hour mark Robbie Benson created space on the left side and sent in a cross resulting in a loose ball as the fox in the box Ronan Coughlan bundled it home, marking his first goal for the club. 

Against the run of play, a long range effort from Mark Doyle was fumbled by Jaros and substitute Dinny Corcoran didn’t need to be asked twice as he scored the equaliser from close range. Drogheda pushed forward and looked the most likely to get a winner as Jaros got tested several times under Drogheda’s pressure.

Right at the death and with both teams resigned for the draw, Robbie Benson’s replacement Billy King was found at the back post by Darragh Burns’ cross and his cool finish confirming the win for Stephen O’Donnell’s troops.

St. Pat's Ath.

1Vitezslav Jaros Goalkeeper
2John Mountney Midfielder
4Sam Bone Defender
5Lee Desmond Defender 82'
6Jamie Lennon Midfielder 22'
7Robbie Benson 15 Midfielder
8Chris Forrester Midfielder
10Ronan Coughlan Forward 59'
11Jason McClelland 17 Forward
12Matty Smith Forward
20Shane Griffin 3 Defender
21Barry Murphy Goalkeeper
3Ian Bermingham 20 Defender
9Nahum Melvin-Lambert Forward
15Billy King 7 Forward 90'
16Alfie Lewis Midfielder
17Darragh Burns 11 Forward
18Ben McCormack Midfielder
25Josh Keeley Goalkeeper
31Kian Corbally Midfielder

Drogheda Utd

23David Odumosu Goalkeeper
2James Browne Defender
3Conor Kane Defender
5Daniel O’Reilly Defender
7Darragh Markey 16 Midfielder
8Gary Deegan Midfielder 18'
9Chris Lyons 10 Forward 19'
11Jake Hyland 6 Midfielder
14Mark Doyle Forward
17Ronan Murray Forward
41Dane Massey Defender
1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
4Jack Tuite Defender
6Hugh Douglas 11 Defender
10Dinny Corcoran 9 Forward 69'
16Brandon Bermingham 7 Forward
20Jordan Adeyemo Forward
21Luke Heeney Midfielder
22James Clarke Midfielder

Past Meetings

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Drogheda United FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Drogheda United FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Drogheda United FC

2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

6
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Drogheda United FC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

Officials

RefereeAssistantsFourth Official
John McLoughlinDarragh Keegan
Wayne McDonnell
Damien MacGraith

Ground

Richmond Park
Emmet Road, Kilmainham C ED, Dublin, Dublin 8, Leinster, D08 VK72, Ireland

With previous experience on a top-tier sports newspaper and a media department of a former European Champion club, Bernardo also collaborates as a sports journalist and media editor at St. Patrick's Athletic.