Dundalk -v- St. Patrick's Athletic

• Press Release
• Fri, May 22 2009


Sean Connor believes Saint Patrick’s Athletic are “one of the better teams” that Dundalk have faced this year as he prepares his side for the visit of Jeff Kenna’s men to Oriel Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Tough times
The Saints have lost their last four away games and have won just one of their last eight outings in the league, that coming against Drogheda United at Richmond Park on 17 April. Last weekend’s draw with Sligo Rovers was their first point since then, with Kenna coming under increased pressure in recent times. However, having lost 2-0 on their trip to Inchicore back in March, Connor is fully aware of the task ahead for Dundalk.

Difficult game
“I think they are actually one of the better teams that we’ve played so far this season,” Connor told dundalkfc.com. “We know that it will be a massive game and an extremely difficult game. Last week’s result sets us up nicely; that was the first time this year we’ve got a win and gone away from home and got a point (back-to-back), and I think if you can average two points a game for the remainder of the season we’ll be certainly closer to the top than the bottom.”

Roll call
The Lilywhites are boosted by the return from suspension of George O’Callaghan and Declan O’Brien, who both sat out last Friday’s draw in Drogheda. However, Chris Turner, sent off during that clash on Boyneside, now serves an automatic one-match suspension. Left-back Dave Rogers, who has been out of action with a hamstring injury since withdrawing early at Bohemians three weeks ago, is expected to miss out again, although he could return for the visit of Sligo next week.

Goals galore
Interestingly, it is now a full year since Dundalk have drawn at home in any competition - the last was a 0-0 stalemate with Longford Town on 20 May 2008, 18 games ago. There has also been at least one goal in the Lilywhites’ last 28 matches. The last scoreless draw they were involved in was at Sporting Fingal on 8 August last year.