Jon Daly admits it will be difficult for St Pat's to mount title challenge after Drogheda loss

St Patrick's Athletic manager Jon Daly admitted it will be difficult to mount a challenge for the title after their 2-1 home loss to Drogheda United last night.

The hosts were undone by Dayle Rooney's goal of the season contender with 10 minutes remaining, ultimately finishing the game with nine men, Sam Curtis being banished for a dangerous high challenge after Jake Mulraney had received two yellows earlier in the half.

The result means the Saints missed a chance to narrow the gap at the top to three points and they remain six adrift with five games remaining, though they face league leaders Shamrock Rovers at home in the penultimate game of the season.

While conceding that winning the league may be a tall order, Daly said that Pat's still have a European spot in their grabs and have a chance to claim a second FAI Cup win in three years, with their upcoming semi-final away to Cork City.

"We're still in a positive position," Daly told LOI TV afterwards. "Yes, you look at the league now and you think it's going to be very difficult to challenge for the top spot.

"But we're still in a very good position for European spots that we're looking to get into. We're still in a Cup semi-final. We'll feel the disappointment of this result but we need to focus and pick ourselves back up.

"We still have a lot to play for between now and the end of the season."