Drogheda United stay top of the Premier Division after scoreless draw against St Pat's Athletic
Drogheda United remain top of the League of Ireland Premier Division after a scoreless draw with St Patrick's Athletic – a third consecutive no-goal stalemate between the teams at the Co Louth venue.
Results elsewhere over the long weekend dictate that despite only taking two points from two games, United stay at the summit. The longer this surprise stint at the top goes on, all the better for those of a claret and blue persuasion.
A crowd of 2,546 crammed into Sullivan & Lambe Park on a glorious Easter Monday early evening. That is more than attended the FAI Cup semi-final against Wexford last year. It is the biggest crowd to watch a match at the old venue in many a year.
Among them was Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson. Making his debut at the Windmill Road venue, he watched the home side dominated the early stages against a Pat's side with his predecessor Stephen Kenny prowling the technical area.
Drogheda caused the Saints a whole host of problems in the opening stages, with front two Thomas Oluwa and Warren Davis their chief tormentors.
There were only three changes between the two sides from the Good Friday fixtures and they were all in the Pat's defence. Ryan McLaughlin, Tom Grivosti and Al-Amin Kazeem replaced Axel Sjoberg, Sean Hoare and Anto Breslin.
Kevin Doherty stuck with the same starting XI that began against Shelbourne, and for the fourth straight match too. Having ceded control to Shels and set up with a low block, this was a much more ambitious display from United.
They took the game to their opponents, with Pat's failing to match them for intensity or physicality. Owen Lambe shot over the bar and Shane Farrell tested Joseph Anang with an attempt that almost embarrassed the goalkeeper.
The home side constantly went looking for Oluwa wide on their left and McLaughlin struggled throughout the first half.
Kenny's side had their chances too, however. The best arrived when Joe Redmond sent a header over the bar when totally unmarked in the United penalty area.
Opportunities were few and far between in the second half. Warren Davis had scored in four successive games but with no sight of goal, he at least posed a problem for the Pat's defence.
Both Grivosti and Kazeem were booked for fouling the in-form 20-year-old.
Substitute Barry Baggley at least tested Luke Dennison late in the game. His well hit shot was turned behind by the Drogs stopper.
In the end, Kevin O'Sullivan's whistle went without a goal yet again between these sides at this ground. Drogheda fans hoped to hear the referee's whistle earlier.
Davis looked to have a claim for a penalty when touched by Grivosti in the area. The official was unmoved.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley, James Bolger; Owen Lambe (Elicha Ahui, 87), Ryan Brennan (Luke Heeney, 64), Shane Farrell, Conor Kane; Darragh Markey; Warren Davis, Thomas Oluwa.
St Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Al-Amin Kazeem (Jake Mulraney, 70); Chris Forrester (Barry Baggley, 70), Jamie Lennon, Brandon Kavanagh (Kian Leavy, 63); Zack Elbouzedi (Conor Carty, 80), Mason Melia, Jason McClelland.
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