– by Christopher Myles
Drogheda United are certainly the surprise package of this season so far, but the same can’t be said for Stephen Kenny’s St. Patrick’s Athletic who look set to compete in the title race even at this early stage.
The Inchicore side have put together back to back away wins against Cork City and Waterford in recent weeks, but their only two losses of the season have both come away from home in Galway and Tallaght.
Chris Forrester will certainly be one to be wary of. The midfielder has three goals and an assist already this season. No player on record has ever scored more times against Drogheda; he’s done so thirteen times throughout his career.
Stephen Kenny will be without the services of talisman Aidan Keena (hamstring), who remains top of the scoring charts with five goals, for the next twelve weeks. Romal Palmer is also on the injury list.
Meanwhile, the injury crisis begins to ease for Drogheda, with Douglas James-Taylor possibly back in contention for the clash. If so, Josh Thomas remains the only absentee.
The latest meeting of the sides ended in a 0-0 draw at Richmond Park on opening day, with both meetings here last season also ending goalless. They last beat Drogheda last September, with goals from Forrester, Jake Mulraney and Mason Melia sealing a 4-1 win.
However, they haven’t won at this ground since Forrester and Eoin Doyle scored in a 3-1 win back in May 2023. That’s just under two years ago.
Drogheda’s last win over Pat’s came in September 2023, when a teenage Warren Davis and substitute Dayle Rooney scored in a 2-1 win at Richmond Park. Their last home win over tonight’s visitors came three months prior, courtesy of Adam Foley’s volley and Darragh Markey’s injury time winner.
Former Saints in the home dugout this evening include the aforementioned Markey, Conor Kane, Conor Keeley, Luke Heeney and Ryan Brennan. Visiting captain Joe Redmond spent five months as a Drogs player at the end of the 2021 season.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Assistants: Eoin Harte, Dylan Redmond
Fourth official: Daniel Murphy
