St Pat's profit from Drogheda red for comfortable win

St Patrick's Athletic ran out 4-1 winners against a spirited 10-man Drogheda United following a dramatic first half in Inchicore.

Chris Forrester's first half penalty was cancelled out by Douglas James-Taylor's spot kick, which was quickly followed by a Jake Mulraney double and late Mason Melia strike securing the Saints' biggest win of the season.

The hosts, who arrived back on Irish soil on Thursday morning, showed no signs of tiredness and came flying out of the trap, and really should have been ahead within two minutes.

Having set Mulraney free down the left wing, Brandon Kavanagh continued his run into the box unmarked.

Man-of-the-match Mulraney then saw his cross spilled by Luke Dennison, with the ball falling kindly into the path of the attacking midfielder Kavanagh who thought he had scored, only for James Bolger to get back around and clear off the line with his chest.

United were looking to follow up their spectacular 7-0 win over Sligo Rovers, with Louth rivals Dundalk just a point behind prior to kick-off in the battle to beat the drop, and looked dangerous themselves in the final third.

Games between the two had been tight affairs, with two games finishing 0-0 and the now Cork City striker Ruairi Keating proving the difference back in May but the home fans, seeing their heroes in Richmond Park for the first time in four weeks, were treated to a first half flurry.

The visitors' task was made even more difficult when Luke Heeney, despite his best efforts to hide his guilt, handled off the line following some goal mouth pinball action.

Chris Forrester made no mistake netting his third of the season, all of which have been penalties, to send the home fans wild.

In a quite chaotic ending to the half, the game was stopped