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.
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 drive lacked sufficient venom to really trouble Dennison.
The Drogheda keeper was soon stretched, though, when having to get down sprightly to his left to push Kavanagh’s deflected shot round a post for dominant St Pat’s fourth corner of the game.
Having worked hard to stay in the game, Drogheda gave themselves some respite when pressing St Pat’s for the first time 10 minutes before the break.
First a goal-bound shot from Shane Farrell struck Redmond to concede a corner from which St Pat’s had to scramble clear.
Steve Bawa then somehow failed to connect with a low cross from fellow striker Josh Thomas.
The sides then swapped chances in the final minutes of an entertaining half.
A good advantage by referee Neil Doyle, who ignored a lineman’s flag for a foul on Jake Mulraney by Drogheda skipper Ryan Brennan, allowed the St Pat’s winger to get back on the ball and bring a fine tip over safe from Dennison.
Back at the other end, Thomas bustled past Axel Sjoberg down the left only to lose his composure and balloon his shot over the top.
Aidan Keena headed wide from St Pat’s sixth corner early in the second half as Drogheda’s goal was set to lead a charmed life.
Elbouzedi curled a shot wide from Keena’s through ball before Baggley had a drive saved by Dennison.
Saints finally thought they had broken the deadlock just before the hour but Elbouzedi was deemed offside as he headed home Keena’s cross.
Kenny brought in Romal Palmer and Melia in the hope of adding further spark to his side’s attack.
But Drogheda continued to dig in tenaciously as they held out for a morale-boosting point on the road, indeed incensed late on at not being awarded a penalty when Bolger appeared to be pulled back by Anto Breslin.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Axel Sjoberg (Ryan McLaughlin 85), Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley (Romal Palmer 72); Zach Elbouzedi (Mason Melia 72), Brandon Kavanagh, Jake Mulraney (Jay McClelland 90+2); Aidan Keena.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andy Quinn, Conor Keeley, James Bolger (Frank Cooper 90+1); Owen Lambe, Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan, Conor Kane; Darragh Markey (Thomas Oluwa 73); Steve Bawa (Luke Heeney 73), Josh Thomas (Warren Davis, 68).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
Attendance: 5,034.
