St Pat's young guns tear Drogheda to shreds

St Patrick's Athletic roared back from their Derry drubbing last week with a comprehensive four-goal victory of their own at Drogheda United.

Tim Clancy might have felt extra pressure for his team to put on a show considering he was returning to the club where he had spent the last four seasons, winning promotion to the Premier Division in the process.

Two goals in each half - with Darragh Burns and Eoin Doyle netting before half-time and Billy King and Kyle Robinson scoring in the second - ensured Clancy ended the evening much happier than his old friend Kevin Doherty, who has seen his side lose three on the spin after a fine unbeaten run.

Ex-Drog Joe Redmond started for Pat's but two of United’s shining stars of seasons gone by - David Odumosu and Mark Doyle - were in reserve for the side from Inchicore. 16-year-old Sam Curtis – a first team debutant at just 15 last season – was handed his first start for the club .

In doing so, he became the youngest player to start a competitive game for the Saints in the modern era.

United meanwhile introduced Ryan Brennan and Dylan Grimes into the starting line-up.

Curtis’ inclusion dominated chatter among the away fans prior to kick-off but it was another teenage star that provided the away side with an early breakthrough.

Burns’ opener arrived with just under four minutes on the clock. Billy King evaded a challenge on the left and chipped in a cross where Burns met it at the back post. He rose to head into the top corner, beyond the reach of a stranded Sam Long. It was the 19-year-old’s third goal of the season – and his second against the Drogs.

United grew into the game after that but their attacking threat was non-existent. Pats, on the other hand, looked plenty capable of doubling