Drogheda - 0 St Patricks Ath - 1 This was a disappointing 90 minutes for the large crowd as St Patrick's stole the points with a goal deep into added time at the end of the first half courtesy of marksman Tony Bird.

It was no more than the visitors deserved but they faded completely in the second half as Drogheda pressed for an equaliser. However, the home side's finishing let them down badly.

The opening 25 minutes of this one was forgettable to say the least with neither side capable of creating an opportunity of note.

St Patrick's suddenly awoke from their slumber with 27 minutes gone when Keith Fahy played Bird through on goal. However, he lifted the ball over both goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd and the United crossbar.

Seven minutes from half-time Jimmi Lee Jones cut in from the left to flash his shot past the Drogheda upright as St Pat's went close to breaking the deadlock.

St Patrick's were now on top and were rewarded two minutes into added time at the end of the half when Fahy once more set up Bird who this time made no mistake from 12 yards.

The early stages of the second half produced little in the way of good football. Then with 20 minutes gone Declan O'Brien was denied an equaliser by the feet of the St Patrick's goalkeeper, Chris Adamson.

This would be the home side's best opportunity of the match even though they pressed hard in the later stages for the equaliser.

Alan Reilly had three half-chances which failed to hit the target with John Lester shooting narrowly over in injury time as Drogheda's final opportunity to salvage a point disappeared.

DROGHEDA UNITED: O'Dowd, Sullivan, Gray, Lynch, O'Connor, Molloy, Whelan, Lester, O'Brien, Myler, Reilly. Subs: Rooney for Myler (62 mins); Cronin for Molloy (70 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson, Donnelly, El Khebir, Ndo, Maguire, Foley, Casey, Fahy, Bird, Jones, Dunne. Subs: Rose for Jones (66 mins); Osam for Casey (83 mins); O'Keeffe for Dunne (90 mins).

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).