All Cruise but no control for Drogs as St Pat's come from behind to claim victory
St Patrick's Athletic 1-2 Drogheda United; EA Sports League of Ireland Men's Under 20 Group 1; TU Blanchardstown; 15/03/25
Just like the night before, Drogheda United began the game impressively and took a first half lead.
Just like the night before, they conceded an equaliser before half time.
Just like the night before, a second half goal for the team from Dublin proved the difference in the end.
Just like the night before, there was penalty drama.
And just like the night before, Kieran Cruise and Dare Kareem played their part for the Drogs.
There were similarities aplenty between what happened at United Park on Friday night and in Blanchardstown on Saturday afternoon and the result was the same too; defeat for Drogheda United. This 1-2 reverse was a first defeat of the campaign for the Under 20 league champions and means United have emerged from their first four fixtures with one win, two draws and one defeat.
It is a steady if unspectacular start for a team that has been rebuilt in part in the aftermath of their stunning 2024 success. United could have claimed a point from this game in the end, but it would hardly have been all that warranted. St Pat’s were the superior side on the whole.
Drogheda had enjoyed a strong start. Cruise’s third minute corner from the right curled all the way into the net, just dropping between angle of post and bar at the back stick.
It had arrived after Bridel Bosakani had slipped his striker partner Kareem through on goal. He still needed to outmuscle a Saints defender before firing a shot that 16-year-old goalkeeper Luke Cullen repelled at the near post.
Cullen was once again called upon seconds later after the Drogs strikers switched roles. This time Bosakani benefitted from a strong run by Kareem, taking the ball on and forcing a low save.
Drogheda were dominant and Kareem - fresh from his senior league debut on Friday - struck from a narrow angle. Cullen was equal to it and when Bosakani saw a shot deflected out for a corner, it looked to be only a matter of time before United doubled their lead.
Another of Pat’s teenage tyros - 16-year-old Billy Hayes - had twice got to the byline and produced dangerous crosses in an indication of his threat. On the other side, the danger posed by Jason Oyenuga would soon become apparent.
The hosts were level when referee Callum O’Donovan pointed to the penalty spot. Bridel Bosakani had lost the ball in midfield and from Ivan Graminschii’s cross, Sean McCarthy’s headed clearance was inadequate. In trying to right his wrong, the defender fouled his man. Thomas Morgan sent Finn Moore diving to his right, but it was the wrong way.
By this point, the Saints had switched their wingers and again Oyenuga was proving a handful on the left. United were getting sloppy now, but Kareem won a corner in keeping the Pat’s backline honest.
Scott Brady and Taylor Mooney both sent free kicks harmlessly but there were legitimate calls for a penalty on Bosakani when his shirt was tugged in the area by Orlandas Jakas.
Ultan McLaughlin demonstrated his defensive instincts twice late in the half. First, after a poor chest control and aimless header, he recovered to deny Oyenuga and then his goal line clearance in first half injury ensured United went in on level terms.
St Pat’s lead goal - and the winning one, as it transpired - arrived on 59 hours. The ball was worked to Oyenuga on the right who burst inside and fired a shot through Moore’s body. It was close to the goalkeeper, but maybe too close. Fiercely struck, he couldn’t get down quick enough to block it’s passage to the net.
Mooney had slipped in midfield to hand Pat’s possession for the goal, another sloppy moment in a game littered with them. United’s defenders were standoffish when right back Billy Canny came forward and slashed a wild effort well wide.
Kareem remained United’s most likely player to produce a moment that would restore parity. McCarthy delivered a wicked cross into the area, but at the near post, Kareem’s touch was deflected wide by a Pat’s defender in close quarters.
United’s play improved with the introductions of substitutes Harry O’Connor and Cian Cleary, with the latter in particular adding some verve and directness to the team.
The hosts took the sting out of the game late on though and Drogs could not generate much in response. The Saints - via Thomas Morgan and Hayes - went close to extending their lead.
United coach Luke Reilly was booked in injury time for protesting against time wasting. The clocked ticked down and so the Drogs were downed too.
Only the top two qualify from these first phase groups and while Drogheda remain well in the hunt to qualify with six games to play, it’ll be tight.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Luke Cullen; Billy Canny (Caighlum Barry Mulvey, 74), Kian Quigley (Adam Nolan, 90+1), Jonathan Kehir, Ivan Graminschii; Thomas Morgan, Orlandas Jakas, Ruairi Morgan (Leo Crabb, 74); Jason Oyenuga, Matthew O’Hara, Billy Hayes.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Finn Moore; Luke Povall, Evan Haddock, Sean McCarthy; Ultan McLaughlin (Sam Case, 80), Taylor Mooney (Andrew Olajide, 81), Scott Brady, Kieran Cruise (Cian Cleary, 64); Conall Cronin (Harry O’Connor, 64); Bridel Bosakani (Callum Bonner, 80), Dare Kareem.
REFEREE: Callum O’Donovan
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Barry, why has Bridel slipped down the pecking order regarding 1st Team game time?