St Pat's win over Drogheda United overshadowed by racism storm
Referee Rob Hennessey had to stop the game for two minutes during the first-half after the on-loan Walsall striker reported a comment that came from the crowd
St Pat’s 4-1 Drogheda United
Kevin Doherty has hit out at the ‘horrendous’ racist abuse aimed at Drogheda United striker Douglas James -Taylor in their defeat to St Pat’s.
Referee Rob Hennessey had to stop the game for two minutes during the first-half after the on-loan Walsall striker reported a comment that came from the crowd.
Both teams made their way to the dugouts and an announcement was made over the public address, stressing there was no place for racist or discriminatory comments.
Once the game restarted, James-Taylor scored a penalty - his sixth goal in four games to pull 10-man Drogheda level.
But they eventually wilted under relentless pressure and fell to their first defeat in their last seven games in all competitions.
An FAI probe is expected to be launched into the Richmond Park incident and Drogs boss Doherty said: “Dougie said there was a racial remark made to him.
“It’s horrendous, absolutely horrendous. It’s a situation I haven’t dealt with before.
“You always hear ‘there’s no place in football for this’, but there’s no place anywhere for that.”
A visibly annoyed Doherty continued: “I have a lot of respect for St Pat’s but I don’t know what they are going to do, but it’s difficult.
“Dougie is obviously very upset. I asked him if he was okay to play on and he said he was, but it’s very, very disappointing.
“I’m sure it will be investigated and I’m sure Pat’s will as well but with Dougie, I trust him 100% on and off the pitch and I’d be very disappointed with the whole thing.
“For him to go and score the penalty took a lot of balls. I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t give ourselves the chance to get something out of the game.”
Doherty added: “Dougie’s character is unbelievable and I’m just more disappointed and hurt for him.
“I remember an incident with Shels in Europe years ago but I thought we had come way past that.
“I’ve spoken to people at St Pat’s and have a lot of respect for them. I’ll leave it to them. I spoke to Dougies after the game and he’s doing okay.”
James-Taylor’s penalty cancelled out Chris Forrester’s opening spot kick after Drogheda midfielder Luke Heeney saved the ball goalkeeper-style on his line.
It was a moment of madness and ultimately ended any hope his side of getting a result in Inchicore.
And St Pat’s made the most of their numerical advantage by surging clear with a brace from Jake Mulraney before Mason Melia scored the pick of the goals at the death.
After a highly respectable run to the Europa Conference League playoffs, St Pat’s are now searching for respectability in the table.
Even with this victory, they are still eight points adrift of third-placed Sligo Rovers and those lucrative European spots for next season.
But that is their target and Stephen Kenny will hope this victory can spark a surge up the table.
Saints were on the money here and never looked back when Mulraney put them 2-1 up just before half-time after turning home man-of-the-match Zack Elbouzedi’s low cross.
Elbouzedi tormented Drogheda with his dynamic wing play and five minutes into the second-half, teed up Mulraney once again to score with a close range header.
St Pat’s had their chances to pull further clear of 10-man Drogs with Jay McClelland fizzing a shot just wide and Alex Nolan getting unwanted height on another effort.
But Melia sealed an impressive victory in injury-time, racing onto Forrester’s pass to skin Dave Webster and drill a low shot into the net from 20-yards.
This was the Saints their biggest win of the season, but one soured by the racist storm that will face further investigation.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Anang 6; Sjoberg 7 (McLaughlin 71, 6), Redmond 7, Grivosti 6, Breslin 7; Lennon 7, Forrester 7; Elbouzedi 8 (Kazeem 82, 5), Kavanagh 7 (McClelland 71, 6), Mulraney 8 (Nolan 76, 5); Keena 7 (Melia 76, 6).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 6; Quinn 5 (Foley 53, 6), Webster 5, Bolger 5 (Keaney 78, 5); Ahui 5 (Harper-Bailey 62, 6), Markey 6 (Davis 78, 5), Brennan 6, Heeney 4, Kane 5 (McNally 53, 6); Pierrot 6, James-Taylor 7.
Referee: R Hennessy (Clare)
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