League Preview: Dundalk FC -v- St Patrick's Athletic

• Extratime Team
• Thu, Mar 02 2023




DUNDALK FC

With a home draw against UCD and an away defeat to Bohemians so far this season, Dundalk host St Patrick’s Athletic looking for their first league win of the campaign. The Lilywhites pipped St Pat’s to third place and European qualification last season, despite a 2-1 defeat the last time the two sides met at Oriel Park.

Stephen O’Donnell welcomes left back Darragh Leahy back to the fold this season after the defender missed the opening two games while Robbie McCourt remains suspended following his dismissal against Derry City last season. Speaking to his club media ahead of the game, Stephen O’Donnell was upbeat about their prospects in the first game of a busy weekend. 

“There wasn’t much between ourselves and St Pat’s in the four games we played last season and I think there’s going to be a lot of close games again this year and it’s going to be very competitive.

We’re looking forward to this one. We have trained well this week and as I said after the game with Bohemians last Friday night, I’m quite excited about the direction we’re going in.

I can understand people wondering why I’m saying there were lots of positives even though we lost the game but I saw enough on Friday and I see enough on a day-to-day basis to know that we’re heading in the right direction.”

 

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Tim Clancy’s Saints travel to Oriel Park unbeaten in the league so far this season. The momentum from Joe Redmond’s late leveller against Derry City in the season opener carried over to the following week with another goal in the dying embers of the game. On both occasions, a set piece from new signing Vladislav Kreida saw the Richmond Park faithful celebrate moments later.

Last weekend, it was another new arrival- defender Noah Lewis- who teed up Eoin Doyle for the winner against Shelbourne. Athletic boss Clancy, speaking to his club media, was positive about their prospects travelling up the M1.

“There was very little in the games between ourselves and Dundalk last season, we've obviously got fond memories of our last minute winner up there last year, it's going to be another tough game.

Dundalk lost by the odd goal against Bohemians last week so they'll be looking to bounce back with a win at home, they only got beaten at Oriel Park once last season and that was against us, it will be a tough ask but we want to try to make it two wins in a row up there.

Our lads will be full of confidence heading into our first away game after our performances at home against Derry City and Shelbourne.

We had two huge home crowds and it's great to see that our away allocation for Dundalk has sold out so quickly, the supporters are always a big boost for us, we'll be hoping to give them more to cheer about on Friday night.”

 

Referee:Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

St Pat’s were the only team to inflict a home league defeat on Dundalk last season. Adam  O’Reilly’s late winner at Oriel Park earned the Saints a 2-1 win in October.

In 2022, both sides earned a win apiece in the matches between the sides, while there were two draws. In their first encounter, ex Bohs winger Dan Kelly was the matchwinner for the Lilywhites, while the final match of the four saw Adam O’Reilly’s goal earn a 2-1 win for the visitors.

St Patrick’s Athletic goalkeeper David Odumosu is a former Dundalk FC Academy player while Dundalk’s John Martin spent time in the St Patrick’s Athletic Academy- both are also former Republic of Ireland Schoolboy internationals.

 

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 1–0 St Patrick’s Athletic

 

Dundalk FC

Injured: John Mountney

Doubtful: Robbie Benson 

Suspended: Robbie McCourt

 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Danny Rogers, Harry Brockbank

Doubtful: Adam Murphy

Suspended: None.