League Report: Dundalk 1 - 1 St Patrick’s Athletic

Luke Jordan reports for extratime.com

Daniel Kelly's late leveller earned ten-man Dundalk a well-deserved point at home to Jon Daly's St Patrick's Athletic on Monday night. 

Conor Carty gave the Saints a 1-0 lead just past the half-hour mark - and it looked like the visitors would hold out for a win. 

But despite Rayhaan Tulloch's red card, the Lilywhites forced their way back into the contest and equalised through Kelly, after he pounced on a defensive mix-up. 

The Saints are now seven points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Both sides came into the contest after morale-boosting derby wins on Friday night - the Athletic saw off Shelbourne while Dundalk beat Drogheda United. 

But the Lilywhites made three changes with Paul Doyle, Robbie McCourt, and Tulloch coming into the starting XI. 

The Saints opted to make one swap, with Mark Doyle replacing midfielder Ben McCormack. 

But it was Saints defender Noah Lewis who was called into action early on as he blocked a Conor Malley shot on goal.

And the hosts had a penalty shout minutes later, but referee Damien MacGraith waved away the protests as Sam Curtis tangled with Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban. 

The Saints then had a penalty claim of their own as Mark Doyle was clipped inside the penalty area after Chris Forrester engineered the opening. 

However, the game burst into life after 33 minutes when the Athletic opened the scoring through Ireland under-21 striker Carty. 

 A cross field free kick by Curtis was controlled by Jake Mulraney, and he picked out the run of Adam Murphy. 

He then squared the ball to Carty who rolled home from six yards out to make it 1-0.

But the Lilywhites thought they equalised soon after through Malley. 

Ryan O'Kane's cross found Malley's head, but Saints keeper Dean Lyness was equal to the task. 

And St Pat's should have doubled their lead after the interval via the outstretched leg of Curtis. 

A free kick caused confusion in the penalty area - with Curtis managing to get a leg on the ball, but his effort clipped off the post and went wide. 

Dundalk were then reduced to ten-men soon after when Tulloch was dismissed for a second yellow card. 

After picking up a booking moment earlier, he got involved in a tussle with Doyle as both players fell to the ground. 

Ref MacGraith deemed that the Dundalk player made the foul and dismissed the West Brom loanee. 

Carty then ought to have all but ended the game as a contest when he was played in on goal - but Nathan Shepperd saved well. 

Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell then rolled the dice with substitutions - and their impact was telling. 

Darragh Leahy and Kelly made a big difference on the momentum of the match while the efforts of Archie Davies proved to be key. 

And it was Davies who proved to be the hero for the Lileyhites when he hacked away Murphy's goal bound chip after Shepperd was beaten. 

Soon after, Dundalk's equaliser came. 

Noah Lewis misjudged the flight of a long ball and winger Kelly pounced to beat him to the ball - before poking the ball home past Lyness. 

In additional time, Dundalk could have taken all three points when Davies whipped a brilliant cross to Kelly at the back post. 

But the former Bohemians man somehow turned the ball wide of the post.

Tommy Lonergan had a couple of half chances late on for St Pat's but both teams had to settle for a point each. 

Dundalk will be the happier of the sides after being down to ten men for the majority of the second half.

Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Louie Annesley (Hayden Muller 59), Andy Boyle, Archie Davies, Robbie McCourt (Darragh Leahy 68); Paul Doyle (Cameron Elliott 46) (John Martin 90), Connor Malley, Ryan O'Kane (Daniel Kelly 59), Greg Sloggett, Rayhaan Tulloch; Patrick Hoban.

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Eoin Kenny, Johannes Yli-Kokko, Keith Ward. 

Booked: Rayhaan Tulloch (53), Robbie McCourt (53), Rayhaan Tulloch (55), Daniel Kelly (90), Patrick Hoban (90). 

Sent off: Rayhaan Tulloch (55). 

St Patrick's Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anto Breslin, Harry Brockbank (Jay McGrath 45), Sam Curtis, Noah Lewis; Mark Doyle (Jason McClelland 73), Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon, Jake Mulraney (Thomas Lonergan 73), Adam Murphy (Thijs Timmermans 85); Conor Carty (Eoin Doyle 85).

Subs not used: David Odumosu, Ben McCormack, Mason Melia, Darius Lipsiuc. 

Booked: Jamie Lennon (17), Chris Forrester (66), Thijs Timmermans (90). 

Referee: Damien MacGraith.

Attendance: 2,371 

extratime.com Player of the Match: Archie Davies (Dundalk).

Daniel Kelly’s reaction to our 1-1 draw against St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park. pic.twitter.com/9cpLlbCtEC

— Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) June 26, 2023