Drogheda 1
St Patrick’s Athletic 3
Barry Landy reports from United Park
CHRIS FORRESTER fired St Patrick’s Athletic to a third straight victory as they continued their recent dominance over Drogheda United with a deserved 3-1 victory at Weavers Park.
The midfielder notched his seventh and eighth career goals against United to hand Tim Clancy’s team a half-time lead. His strikes came either side of Dylan Grimes’ equaliser.
Eoin Doyle’s injury-time goal sealed a deserved win for the Saints who are now unbeaten in seven matches against the Drogs, winning six of those games.
Following on from victories against UCD and Cork, this win is the result of a team growing in confidence. Their run of form comes at the perfect time too, just ahead of Friday’s Dublin derby against league leaders Bohemians.
The home side were missing manager Kevin Doherty following his sending off at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last Friday but their win there underlined his unfancied team’s ability to beat anyone in the division, regardless of status.
They could do nothing to stop St Pat’s continue their recent fine form, however. Forrester’s two first-half goals, either side of a Grimes equaliser, and then sub Doyle’s strike ensured Tim Clancy’s team made it nine points from nine available since the international break.
Jay McGrath flicked Jamie Lennon’s cross onto the arm of Jarlath Jones and referee Kevin O’Sullivan showed no hesitation in awarding the spot kick.
Forrester’s effort from 12 yards proved too much for goalkeeper Colin McCabe. The Pat’s stalwart has hit four goals since the international break.
Grimes was well placed to finish after Freddie Draper’s run into Pat’s territory was halted just inside the area. The ball fell his way and he produced a composed finish. The visitors from Inchicore soon reassumed control.
After Colin McCabe saved from Jamie McClelland, the ball was worked to Forrester. He deftly turned away from his man and left Colin McCabe stranded with a shot into the bottom corner.
In the midst of five minutes of injury time, and with Drogheda pushing men forward in search of a leveller, Doyle rounded McCabe and scored to send the sizeable away contingent from Inchicore home very happy indeed.
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Luke Heeney (Warren Davis, 81), Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley, Jarlath Jones; Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Aaron McNally (Michael Leddy, 57), Dylan Grimes, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Dean Lyness; Sam Curtis, Joe Redmond (Noah Lewis, 64), Jay McGrath, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester, Thijs Timmermans (Adam Murphy, 77), Jamie McClelland Thomas Lonergan (Eoin Doyle, 64), Jake Mulraney (Mark Doyle, 23).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Liverpool will win with ease.
You won the village idiot award of the day already.
I don’t remember that.
You won a cuckoo clock
Nice to see Mata start again ahead of Lingard people will moan about Fellaini but was good in last two rounds.. My biggest worry is a sending off for him.
Do you think Mata will be gone next year if Jose shows up? I hope not.
Bleedin FA cup is turning into Super Bowl
It’s sad United used to win league titles and the champions league….they are happy trying to get 4th every season and winning the FA cup. Paul Scholes was right United have turned into Arsenal. #eraisover
Don’t worry don’t cry..
It’s been three season since United won last, get over yourself. No-one can stay at the top forever.
What makes you say they are happy. United fans are furious at the drop in form over the last 4 years
Classic clattenburg cock up there, how is he considered the best ref right now?
Ya he’s a disgrace, bottled sending cabaye and Delaney off. Going out to injury players is an utter disgrace . He had no problem throwing around yellows cards for hand bags but ignores leg breakers.
Palace will feel very aggrieved with that decision. Poor refereeing from Clattenberg.
You pop up infrequently but ref decisions go for or against in every game. Reality is United fans would prefer 4th over FA, just like Liverpool. Ye will do well under Klopp and you know that.
C’mon Palace!
Haha GGMU
Scottish Cup Final 3-2 Hibernian beat Rangers, one of the best games of football I have seen for years even considering it was Scottish football
The pitch invasion after was even better….hup the Hibees!
Disallowed goal. Answers on a postcard please.
Pardew should have a good interview if they lose….
I’m hoping for a 2-1 win for United. I can’t see Palace making it as comfortable for United as they did at Old Trafford in April.
Martin Keown is the worst commentator
Ever !
Woohoo. Deserved win.
United are so boring to watch. Awful first half from a neutral perspective
From a neutral point of view I was looking forward to both games today. Scottish cup was brilliant, this has been really poor. Clattenberg is a wab.
Commiserations to Crystal Palace. Worthy finalists, and it could have gone either way. Congrats to Man United.
Please not another 30 mins.. #Dire
Do you not realise that you can change the channel.
Get in thereeeeeeeeee !!!!!
Ah christ Fellaini starts :-(
At least he’s not playing as a striker or attacking mid…
He’s good for a few peoples elbows.
He’ll properly score then
LVG OUT.
#Moyes in.
He gone now
Expect Man Utd to win, LvG did steady the ship towards the end and looked better, just do not know which Palace team will show up……
How did he? They fooked fourth place away…
A top 4 finished was thrown away long before the last few games , that last few just made it still mathematically possible
4th was being fooked away by Man City… You do actually follow what happens, right?
They fooked away a lot more then fourth place, you do actually follow what happens?
So, you gave up on your original comment? You do follow what you are saying, right?
How am I!!? Utd did fook away fourth place but previously city fooked away any chance they had of winning the league. So again, do you follow it at all??
Fooking hell lads
He properly saw van Goals tactics
PUNCHEON!!!!!
Great win for Hibs!
Damian Delaney was outstanding.Martin O’Neill, please ask Damian to play for Ireland, ignore Keane, he won’t refuse.
It’s o Neill that has the problem with him
I was of the option that Delaney had a problem with Keane since Ipswitch.
Ya he did have a falling out with Keane at Ipswich, but he was asked about it before and said’ its not Roy who had the problem with me at all ‘. There was talk that he would only come back if he was guaranteed a start. O Neill told him where to go
Will take it and be glad of a cup. Springboard for better things hopefully.
What sort of a dirtbag , takes off his club shirt and throws it on the ground after scoring, the mind boggles .
Yours would !
…….
disgraceful scenes.
oops wrong article
Just some prlck lads, move along.
Well done to Palace , a great game best final in years
It was a terrible game. What you talking about Willis
Someone tell who the second commentator on TV3 is!! It’s driving me mad
Welsh hippy we did enjoy that .
Great win , great week for United fans
Yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh
Years ago winning the fa cup meant something unfortunately not nowadays…
Fellaini for man of the match!