Myself, Paddy and his son arrived at the game apprehensive enough. The question of whether Pat's had returned from their Patrick's Day trip to New York, jaded or rejuvenated, hung in the air. While Pat's have not had a great start to their season, the Drogs can hardly look down their nose at them given that the Dublin side were perched two points above their Louth opposition. That has not changed after last night's draw. It is now hoped that the bottom two positions don't change come Monday's clash at Oriel Park with Dundalk in the Louth derby. Five points from six matches leaves the Drogs in a perilous position and psychologically it is crucial that they cut the rope that allows Dundalk to cling to them. If Drogheda fail to emerge with all three points on Monday then they will be truly be on the ropes they failed to slice, because they cannot expect to get much from next week's home fixture against runaway league leaders, Shelbourne.
Games at Weaver Park are usually tension free but last night there was a slight edge to the atmosphere. While we always go through a cursory pat down on our way into the stadium, flares invariably get through. When a lone security steward approached the ultras presumably to raise his concerns about the projectiles he was howled at. We watched on, fearful that some lone wolf would strike out prompting a group to morph into a pack. Garda soon arrived and the situation calmed.
Flares are problematic at soccer matches. There were delays at last year's cup final in the Aviva due to Bohemians fans launching them onto the pitch. At the Sligo-Drogheda game last season the referee suspended and threatened to halt the game after flares from the Sligo ultras landed on the field of play.
Last night saw the Drogheda ultras holding the flares in their hands to greet their team and once they burned their way through their incendiary content they were dropped on the spectator side of the pitch, with nothing being launched onto the field. While no ill-intent featured, the harmless enough description does not suffice. I always worry that some child attracted to the fiery spectacle will lose an eye or sustain some other life changing injury as a result of a careless or accidental swing of a flare wielding arm.
As against Sligo a fortnight back, the Drogs played well last night. Overall they dominated but the problem that has bedevilled them all season showed no sign of abating. They can create but fail to convert goal scoring opportunities. Even taking into account a brilliant goal line clearance and some fine shot-stopping, Drogheda still underwhelm in attack. The recently capped Haitian international Frantz Pierrot is taking his time to settle into the Drogheda forward line, and his first touch all too often comes up short.
While he turned out for the visitors Kian Leavy's Maradona/Messi-like run, where he brushed off one Drogheda challenge after another, was scintillating if terrifying to watch as he closed in on goal. The game's stand out moment.
Throughout, my friend in Belfast, a former republican prisoner, kept me up to speed on Glentoran's home implosion to the auld enemy, Linfield. That coupled with a stream of memes about the DUP captain being shown the red card, challenged my ability to concentrate on the clash before my eyes which was not free from yellow cards.
On a day fit for purpose to nail an opponent, Good Friday was not so good for the Drogs. We departed, relieved that a point had been secured, while acutely aware that the relief it provides is tenuous and of short duration.
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