Drogheda United 2 St Patrick's Athletic 2: AT THE end of 90 pulsating minutes a draw was just about right as the league leaders and the defending champions shared the spoils.

St Patrick's will be the happier as the draw sees them maintain a nine-point advantage over one of their main rivals.

Both sides went on the attack from the outset and it was St Patrick's who created the first moment of danger when they won a free just outside the Drogheda box. However, dead-ball specialist Keith Fahey drove the ball well over. Almost immediately at the other end Shane Robinson's shot grazed the post. A daisy cutter from Gary Dempsey tested Jamie Ewings in the United goal and Bobby Ryan fired over as the Saints pushed forward early on.

With the game so open the breakthrough wasn't long in coming. Drogheda's Paul Keegan sent a free into the box from the right after eight minutes and Adam Hughes who was afforded the freedom of the park to guide the ball past goalkeeper Barry Ryan.

United went close to doubling their advantage in the 21st minute when the St Patrick's goal lived a charmed life after the mother of all scrambles in their penalty area.

Graham Gartland met Keegan's corner only to see his header cleared from the line to Hughes, whose headed effort was also blocked by the head of Jamie Harris. The ball then fell to Richie Baker who drove his shot off the crossbar before referee Anthony Buttimer brought the bedlam to a halt when he blew for offside.

As the half drew to a close Gary O'Neill connected with a Des Byrne delivery but his header was just above the target.

The final play saw Hughes meet Robinson's corner but his effort went well over.

The Saints enjoyed much the better possession in the opening 20 minutes of the second half but it was the defending champions who twice went close through the ever lively Robinson.

He cut in from the right but his shot sailed a foot past the post. Then on 64 minutes, Jason Gavin's long ball from defence saw Robinson profit from a mix up between Stephen Brennan and his goalkeeper but from an acute angle he hit the post.

An amazing seven-minute spell from the 70th minute produced three goals that saw St Patrick's level, fall behind and equalise once more. Fahey's corner picked out Jamie Harris whose downward was turned into the net by Gary O'Neill. The celebrations had barely died down when Baker sent Stuart Byrne racing clear to coolly slot the ball past Ryan.

But within five minutes Drogheda fans were stunned when Gary Dempsey met Alan Kirby's cross to send his header home and make it two apiece.

The final 10 minutes saw Drogheda go close to grabbing a winner when Eamon Zayed drove his shot narrowly wide and a Hughes header fell just the wrong side of the post.

Deep into stoppage time St Patrick's could and should have won it but Glen Fitzpatrick's shot was fingertipped away by Ewings.

DROGHEDA: Ewings, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Hughes, Bates (Zayed, 73 mins), Baker (O'Keeffe, 85 mins), Shelley, Byrne, Keegan, Cahill.

ST PATRICK'S: Ryan Barry, Brennan, Byrne, Fahey, O'Neill, Quigley, Ryan Bobby (Kirby, 63 mins), Harris, Dempsey, Guy (Fitzpatrick, 73 mins), Paisley.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)