DROGHEDA UNITED...2 ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC...2:Drogheda and St Patrick's produced an entertaining 2-2 draw in atrocious conditions at 02 Park last night.
The home side raced into a 2-0 lead at half-time with goals from Mark Quinless after five minutes and Declan O'Brien after 41 minutes and appeared to be coasting to a well-deserved victory.
However, St Patrick's had the wind advantage in the second half and were a transformed side.
Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Paul Osam pounced to share the points after the Dubliners had missed a penalty through Tony Bird 13 minutes earlier.
Drogheda went in front after five minutes when from Pat Scully's cross Declan O'Brien laid the ball on for Mark Quinless to hammer past goalkeeper Chris Adamson at his near post.
The home side should have made it two after 15 minutes when Quinless hit the post from 25 yards. With half an hour gone Adamson did well to tip Declan O'Brien's 30-yard free kick to safety.
Drogheda struck for a well- deserved second goal four minutes from half-time when O'Brien headed home Gary Cronin's corner.
Six minutes into the secondhalf Drogheda should have killed the game off but O'Brien fired wide from close range.
Immediately, the visitors pulled a goal back at the other end when, from Keith Foy's cross, Keith Dunne scored to set up a nail-biting finish.
After the penalty miss the visitors pushed relentlessly for an equaliser and were rewarded 11 minutes from time when Osam stabbed the ball home.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, Gray, O'Connor, Lynch, Cronin, Scully, Quinless, Flanagan, O'Brien, Myler, Tierney,
ST PATRICKS ATHLETIC: Adamson, Prenderville, Donnelly, Delaney, Maguire, Foley, Osam, Foy, Bird, Dunne, McPhee, Subs: Murphy for Donnelly (53), Freeman for McPhee (70), O'Keeffe for Bird (84).
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath)
