St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Dundalk

• Eoin Manning
• Sun, Aug 02 2009


It’s back to the day job on Sunday night for Jeff Kenna and his St.Patrick’s Athletic’s players following Thursday night’s heroics in the Europa League against Krylya Sovetov as they take on 5th place Dundalk at Richmond Park in the League of Ireland Premier Division (Kick Off: 7:45pm).

It is an important game for the Inchicore club for a number of reasons as they not only look to try and build on their poor league position and attempt to correct their recent indifferent domestic form but also that it was in this same fixture earlier in the season that their season was derailed seemingly irrevocably as they lost both Gary Dempsey and Mark Leech to broken legs.

Both players are now again available for selection, Dempsey even managed the final 18 minutes on Thursday’s famous European victory, and Kenna will be hoping that he can finally start to show Pat’s supporters and board members just what he is capable of as a manager with a near full squad at his disposal.

Kenna will only be without winger Gints Friemanis and Striker Mark Quigley, who are both still a few weeks away from first team return, but the fact the fact that the Saint’s treatment table is no longer overbooked will cause the former Republic of Ireland international almost as much satisfaction as their recent exploits on the continent.

Dundalk for their part will have no shortage of motivation for the encounter themselves having lost all eight games against the Dublin clubs this season while their record against Pat’s specifically doesn’t make for any better reading either; without a goal since 1998 or a victory at Richmond Park in over 20 years.

Manager Sean Connor will also have work cut out to ensure that none of his players are playing the game with one eye on Monday night’s friendly with an Athletico Madrid XI as he strives to keep within touching distance of the League’s top four clubs.

Kenna stated after Thursday’s game that the sort of commitment and bravery shown by his players must be replicated in their league form but whether or not they will be capable of it will be revealed come 8:45 pm on Sunday night.

Extratime.ie prediction: St.Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 Dundalk FC