A third goal of the season from Ruairi Keating earned St Patrick's a welcome, if laboured, first win in a month.
A dominant first half display delivered the three points here, but Jon Daly’s side had to work hard throughout the second half to hang on to them against a tenacious Drogheda United who left Richmond Park feeling they should have taken something from the game.
Despite Jamie Lennon’s suspension adding to the absence of injured skipper Joe Redmond, St Pat’s rejigged the spine of their side and began brightly.
On his game, Chris Forrester, captaining the side in Redmond’s stead, pulled the strings in midfield and was central to their early probings.
Anto Breslin rifled over the top early on before St Pat’s worked Drogheda goalkeeper Jethren Barr for the first time on 14 minutes.
The lively Forrester was again the instigator, threading a delightful ball through for Keating to force the save.
Though Evan Weir arced a free kick not far over the top, St Pat’s remained on top with Keating getting a couple of sights of goal in quick succession.
First the striker shot wide at the near post before finding the side netting from Brandon Kavanagh’s fourth corner of the game.
Drogheda showed their threat from a set-piece again on 36 minutes, big defender Hayden Cann heading just off target from Weir’s deep free kick.
But just when Saints thought their first half dominance might be in vain, they took the lead right on 45 minutes.
Kavanagh cleverly found the run of Keating who skilfully cut inside Hayden to sweep the ball home.
Drogheda’s threat from dead ball situations almost brought them level within two minutes of the restart.
Again Weir’s delivery was on point with Andy Quinn seeing his header come back off a post before Saints scrambled the ball clear.
Inches from levelling at one end, Drogheda had Barr to thank for not finding themselves two down on 50 minutes.
Kian Leavy skipped clear on the left to cross for Kavanagh whose shot was brilliantly saved down to his right by the South African international.
Not to be outdone by that, Danny Rogers soon had to produce an equally good save at the other end.
Luke Heeney’s cross picked out Ryan Brennan whose crisp header Rogers turned round a post.
That ignited Drogheda’s best spell in the game with Quinn having a shot blocked in a right scramble in the home area.
Forrester had a chance to ease the home nerves on 76 minutes, but saw his diving header from substitute Jake Mulraney superb cross saved by Barr.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers; Ryan McLaughlin (Kieran Freeman 62), Conor Keeley, Luke Turner, Anto Breslin; Aaron Bolger, Chris Forrester; Brandon Kavanagh (Mason Melia 84), Kian Leavy (Romal Palmer 74), Alex Nolan (Jake Mulraney 74); Ruairi Keating.
Drogheda United: Jethren Barr; Luke Heeney, Hayden Cann, Andy Quinn, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Adam Foley (Steve Bawa 67), Darragh Markey, Warren Davis; Frantz Pierrot.
Referee: Declan Toland (Midlands).
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