Profligate finishing coupled to dogged defending frustrated St Patrick's Athletic before a crowd of over 5,000 at Richmond Park as the joint favourites for the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title had to settle for a point on the opening night against a Drogheda United side tipped by many for relegation.
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St Patrick’s won all nine of their final fixtures last season to rise from eighth place to finish third and secure Conference League football this summer.
But in what is their 75th season in the League of Ireland, they couldn’t add a tenth successive victory here as Kevin Doherty’s FAI Cup winners showed their mettle to grind out a result from this far from dull scoreless draw.
Saints’ manager Stephen Kenny named talisman midfielder Chris Forrester and teenage striker Mason Melia, destined for Tottenham in a €1.8 million deal at the end of the season, on the bench following pre-season injuries, as his side started very much on the front foot.
Though owning the ball, it was 14 minutes before St Pat's saw sight of goal; midfielder Jamie Lennon glancing a header wide from a Brandon Kavanagh free kick.
Drogheda, with one change from last week’s President’s Cup defeat to Shelbourne as James Bolger replaced Aaron Harper-Bailey on the left of a back three, survived their first real scare seven minutes later.
Zach Elbouzedi’s deep corner dropped for skipper Joe Redmond, unattended at the back post. The visitors duly relieved to see the volley shave the crossbar.
Luke Dennison, who didn’t incur a suspension for his sending off against Shelbourne last week, was worked for the first time two minutes later.
Saints new signing Barry Baggley put Elbouzedi in behind with a sublime through ball. The winger’s scuffed
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