Table topping Drogs denied at death in six-goal thriller
Drogheda United 3-3 St Patrick's Athletic, EA Sports League of Ireland Men's Under 20 Group A, Drogheda Institute of Further Education, 25/05/24
Evan Haddock thought he had secured victory, and with it confirmation of Drogheda United’s top of the table finish, with qualification for the Elite Phase already secured for his team. Visitors St Patrick’s Athletic had other ideas and levelled the game in the seventh minute of injury time.
Why referee Wayne McDonnell added so much at the end of the game is a mystery. The second half had two goals, five substitution windows and little else in the way of interruption. Imposing 18-year-old centre back Haddock scored in the 95th minute, heading in at the back post, but there remained time for Dare Kareem, himself a giant compared to most on the pitch, to repeat the trick at the opposite end.
Drogheda now sit three points clear of opponents St Patrick’s Athletic at the summit and with two games left to play - the Saints only have one - require only a point from games against Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps to finish atop the seven team group.
Fresh from a session where they picked apart Thursday night’s dire defeat to Waterford at the RSC, Kevin Doherty, his staff and a host of first team players made an appearance at DIFE to cheer on their youthful counterparts. By the time they made their exit at the break, United were enjoying a 2-0 lead courtesy of strikes from Matthew O’Brien and Harry O’Connor.
United’s Finn Moore was the first goalkeeper called into action when he denied Sam Rooney from point blank range. Pat’s Ruairi Morgan was fortunate not to be booked for clattering into Ultan McLaughlin before Drogheda found their range in front of goal. Emre Topcu cut inside onto his right foot and drilled a shot wide of the post.
Minutes later, O’Brien went one better. The midfielder’s league minutes this season have totalled just 27 minutes across two substitute appearances. He, Topcu, James Byrne and Killian Cailloce travelled to the south coast on Thursday and started here. Conall Cronin tenaciously won possession in midfield and made progress down the right before centering the ball. It was Harry O’Connor’s layoff that found O’Brien, who beat Matthew Boylan low to his left.
After that, Pat’s - with ex-Drogheda United and Republic of Ireland striker Stephen Elliott on the sideline - started to assume control. Rooney got in on the right hand side and shot across goal - with Drogs captain Osaze Irhue colliding with the post and requiring treatment - while Billy Hayes fired wide of the upright.
United doubled their advantage when the impressive O’Connor finished well after Boylan failed to hold Cronin’s right wing cross, curling a shot beyond the goalkeeper. Much of United’s play was coming down that side, with right back Ethan Maher heavily involved at both ends.
An intriguing subplot coming into the game was James Byrne playing against his former side, having left St Pat’s in the off-season to join United. If that didn’t go down well in Inchicore, seeing him emerge as the driving force of this impressive Drogheda side will surely rankle.
Another emerged in the first half in the battle between a couple of men mountains in Haddock and Kareem. It was a physical battle for the ages, and Irhue is no slouch in that department either. Until the game’s last moment, Haddock - who has been training with the first team of late - had enjoyed besting the aerial battle.
Cailloce scuffed an effort from the edge of the area after fine work from Topcu, and before the whistle, Rooney headed over when well placed at the other end.
Ireland youth international Luke Kehir’s 25-yard shot beat Moore ten minutes after the restart, despite the Drogs goalkeeper getting a firm touch on the effort. O’Brien was required to block Kareem’s shot after a quick breakaway involving Byrne and Cronin ended in Cailloce being unable to properly connect while stretching for the ball.
After the 18-year-old was brought down by Darragh Mooney, with the Pat’s man receiving a yellow card, O’Brien’s free kick delivery was met by Irhue but he headed into the ground and the goalkeeper was not troubled.
The Saints’ second goal came via a set piece of their own. After Drogheda failed to clear a corner from the right, Morgan drilled a low shot into the net. Adam Nolan and Kareem both headed presentable opportunities over before an already entertaining match went swung one way and back again in added on time.
Another O’Brien delivery caused havoc, this time from a corner Haddock evaded his marker and stooped to head in in at the back post. That was in the fifth post-ninety minute. 90 seconds later, Kareem had the final say. After Topcu blocked a goalbound effort from the giant striker, the hosts failed to deal properly with a corner. Goalkeeper Boylan, having made a dramatic dash forward, won a header from the deep cross. Kareem met it at the back post and the net rippled.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Finn Moore; Ethan Maher (Manny Milongo, 63), Osaze Irhue, Evan Haddock, Ultan McLaughlin; James Byrne, Matthew O’Brien; Conall Cronin (Callum Warren 80), Emre Topcu, Harry O’Connor (Bridel Bosakani, 52); Killian Cailloce (Fayo Adeogun, 80).
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Matthew Boylan; Adam Deans, Darragh Mooney (Harry Leonard, 77), Sam Steward (Adam Nolan, 79), Luke Kehir, Sam Rooney (Matthew O’Hara, 69), Billy Hayes, A Cahill, Ruairi Morgan, Cian Carmody, Dare Kareem.
REFEREE: Wayne McDonnell
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