In the Premier Division of the Airtricity League, St Patrick’s Athletic gained a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Drogheda United. This marked their greatest triumph of the season so far at Richmond Park, despite returning from their Conference League exit in Turkey just a few days before. The match saw Jake Mulraney excel by scoring two goals, while Chris Forrester and 16-year-old Mason Melia contributed with a penalty and a striking last-minute goal respectively.
Despite the on-pitch success, the match was overshadowed by discriminatory comments allegedly aimed at Douglas James Taylor, a striker from Drogheda, from one section of the crowd. Drogheda’s manager, Kevin Doherty, verified the incident, stating Taylor disclosed that a racial slur was directed at him. Both clubs, along with the match delegate, are now investigating the incident.
Doherty voiced his disappointment and assured that it will be looked into thoroughly. In the face of adversity, Taylor continued to play on, with Doherty expressing unwavering trust in him both on and off the field.
Concerning game happenings, St Pat’s opener was thwarted only two minutes into the match by a clearance from James Bolger, preventing a goal from Brandon Kavanagh. Despite Drogheda’s protests for a penalty being dismissed, St Pat’s still secured a lead halfway through the first period. Following a failure to clear Kavanagh’s fifth corner of the game, Luke Heeney of Drogheda handled Anto Breslin’s header at the goal line, resulting in a penalty and his dismissal from the field. Forrester capitalized on this and scored his third penalty of the season.
The match came to a temporary halt after James Taylor expressed discontent with Rob Hennessy, the referee, citing remarks from the riverside terrace. In a frantic end to the first half, Taylor managed to balance the score with a penalty in the 43rd minute. The penalty was due to Frantz Pierrot, his teammate, being shoved by Tom Grivosti. This was Taylor’s sixth goal in the last four games with Drogheda.
St Pat’s, however, swiftly responded by regaining their lead. Zack Elbouzedi dodged past Conor Kane to the finishing line, crossing for his fellow wingman Mulraney, who nudged the ball into the net. The duo teamed up again five minutes into the second half, with Elbouzedi outwitting Kane again on the right wing, and crossing to Mulraney who headed the ball past Luke Dennison.
In the 93rd minute, substitute Melia topped off the game, receiving Forrester’s pass and darting on to drill a goal from around 20 yards into the bottom corner.
Playting for St Patrick’s Athletic were Anang, Sjoberg (substituted with McLaughlin in the 71st minute), Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin, Lennon, Mulraney (swapped with Nolan after 76 minutes), Forrester, B. Kavanagh (McClelland on after 71 minutes), Elbouzedi (replaced by Kazeem on the 82nd minute), and Keena (exchanged for Melia on the 76th minute).
Drogheda United players were Dennison, Quinn (Foley subbed in after 53 minutes), Webster Bolger (replaced by Keaney on the 78th minute), Ahui (Harper-Bailey replaced him after 62 minutes), Heeney, Brennan, Kane (subbed off for McNally on the 53rd minute), Markey (Davis came on after 78 minutes), Pierrot, and James-Taylor.
The match was officiated by Rob Hennessy from Clare.