ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC had striker Daryl Kavanagh to thank for their 3-0 win over Drogheda United at Richmond Park.

 

The ex-Waterford United man grabbed a first-half brace before Danny North got one to steer the Saints to their third win of the season and pick up three deserved points.

 

There may still be room for improvement in Pete Mahon’s team, but they showed in this game what they are capable of once they click and command the midfield battleground.

 

Even when they lost Shane McFaul to a hamstring injury, they were able to call on the superb Stephen Bradley. But it was Kavanagh who was the star of the show in this victory.

 

After setting up his strike partner North for a fine chance on 26 minutes, he then went for goal himself just 60 seconds later and found the back of the net – albeit with a bit of luck.

 

Kavanagh controlled a pass into him, held off Drogheda defender Alan McNally and let rip from distance. It was a shot that keeper Stephen Trimble would have expected to save, but it bounced into the back of the net.

 

The keeper did make amends with a save from North and then a superb stop on 39 minutes to deny Kavanagh. Although he conceded a second goal just before half-time.

 

With the Saints pushing forward at every opportunity and Kavanagh twisting the visiting defence inside and out, it was inevitable that he would score again and that is what he did on 43 minutes.

 

A strong run forward from North opened up space and the ball was fed to Kavanagh, whose first shot was blocked but he was alert to fire in a second attempt that beat Trimble.

 

Drogheda struggled to match the home team in midfield and so failed to create many goalscoring chances. Brian Gannon and David Freeman did both shoot wide, but they were never going to trouble keeper Gary Rogers.

 

After the break it was more of the same as Trimble denied Paul Crowley with an excellent one-handed save, Kavanagh went close with a headed chance and North blasted wide.

 

A third goal arrived on 71 minutes when North found himself in space within the opposition’s penalty area to convert a cross following a quick breakaway.

 

Winger Sean Stewart thought that he had made it 4-0, but his chipped effort was cleared off the line by Gannon. Despite that piece of brave defending, it was inevitable who was going to win this encounter.

 

St Pat’s ended the game on the attack and will take plenty of positives from this performances and result as they look to build up some momentum and climb up the Premier Division table.

 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Pender, Shortall, E McMillan (Daly 82), Bermingham; Stewart, McFaul (Bradley 22), Crowley (Murphy 75), Doyle; Kavanagh, North.

Drogheda United: Trimble; Nolan, McNally (Thompson h-t), Ekanem, Hand; Gannon, M O’Brien, Quigley, McEnteggart (McNamara 69); Freeman (Corcoran 61), Hanaphy.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).