Stuart Byrne struck for a crucial late winner as St. Patrick’s Athletic moved up to sixth in the table with a win over Drogheda United.

This was a chance for Alan Mathews’ side to leapfrog the Saints but despite being the better team, United just couldn’t break the deadlock and instead they missed out on even the draw.

Jeff Kenna made two changes to the side that competed so well against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday night, Jamie Harris and Enda Stevens being replaced by Jason Gavin and Darragh Ryan.

But the Saints were a shadow of the team that was so energetic at the RDS and they were dealt a blow when they lost former United star Declan “Fabio” O’Brien to a nasty finger injury after just 16 minutes.

They could have been in front  within three minutes as Ryan Guy found Garreth O’Connor in the box but the winger’s header was blocked by Scott Gibb.

Drogheda knew a win would see them leapfrog the Saints and they looked confident in attack. James Chambers sent a well struck free kick just past the post after 22 minutes while Mark Quigley spurned a good chance at the other end with a weak effort that Steve Williams gathered easily.

Ross Gaynor fired wide before delivering a corner that was met by Conor Kenna but his firm header was straight at Gary Rogers.

United did have some defending to do, Gibb brilliantly getting a tackle in on Glenn Fitzpatrick as he looked to shoot before Kenna denied Guy a golden opportunity from a Fitzpatrick cross.

Scoreless at the break, Drogheda almost took the lead six minutes in as the excellent Chambers found Brendan McGill on the right wing and he picked out the unmarked Brian King at the back post whose firm header came back off the bar before Damian Lynch blocked Robbie Martin’s follow up effort.

Steve Williams brilliantly saved from Mark Quigley as both sides pushed for a winner while Rogers denied Chambers at the other end.

And then with nine minutes remaining, Quigley again brought the best out of Williams but his save ran across to the onrushing Byrne who slotted the ball home to take a lead they scarcely deserved.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Lynch, Gavin, Partridge, Ryan; Guy, Byrne, Cawley, O’Connor (Ryan 68); Quigley, O’Brien (Fitzpatrick 16).

Drogheda United: Williams; Gibb, Kenna, McNally, Clarke; B McGill, E McGill, Chambers, King (Farrell 86); Martin (Bates 86), Gaynor.

Ref: N Doyle (Dublin).