Marcus Hallows was hero turned villain at United Park last night as ten-man St Patrick's held out for three precious points.
The former Sligo Rovers striker, who might have had a hat-trick in the first half, put the visitors ahead after just 12 minutes with a glancing header from a Martin Russell cross. However, he was then sent off 13 minutes from full-time following an altercation with Drogheda goalkeeper Gareth Byrne.
It could have been a costly dismissal as St Patrick's were left clinging on at the finish. Alan McNevin looked to have sealed the points for the visitors when scoring a superb second goal, just 13 minutes into the second half. But substitute John Butler pulled a goal back just five minutes later.
DROGHEDA: G Byrne, A Murphy, Thornton, McDonald, Maher, O'Keeffe, Coleman, Roche, Revins, O'Dowd, M Byrne. Subs: Butler for Coleman (55 mins); C Murphy for Revins (60 mins), Cronin for McDonald (75 mins).
ST PATRICK'S: Woods, Lynch, Gormley, Osam, Hallows, Croly, Callaghan, Molloy, McNevin, Russell, Donelly. Subs: Harte for Russell (83 mins); McCarthy for Molloy (90 mins).
Referee: P McKeown (Dublin).
