Details

Date Time League Season
8 August 2021 3:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Pat’s ‘four’ce win over Dundalk

A brace of goals from Matty Smith and strikes from Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Chris Forrester gave St. Patricks Athletic an important three points on the road, as they hit Dundalk for four and they took full advantage of a side distracted by their European ambitions in Oriel Park.

This now sees the two clubs seventeen points apart and despite games in hand this has to be a worrying result for Vinny Perth’s men as they were completely outplayed in the second half by a resurgent and ruthless Saints.

The first half was an evenly matched contest with both sides breaking with intent in an open passing game. The first goal fell to the visitors as a corner is sent into the Dundalk area saw them fail to clear their lines and after Jason McClelland and John Mountney both have shots on goal, Abibi could only parry Mountney's second effort and Nahum Melvin-Lambert was on hand to tap it home.

Dundalk responded the better and showed their real worth with a goal of real class as a fantastic breaking run from Patrick McEleney who with the outside of his boot fed the ball to Michael Duffy whose shot beat Vitezslav Jaros and Hoban was on hand to tap it in. Matty Smith put the Saints back in the lead as Ben McCormack's initial shot was blocked and the ball fell kindly to Smith who made no mistake.

While the first half was a tight affair the second was in stark contrast and saw the visitors take the game to the hosts and execute it with ruthlessness. Stephen O'Donnell's men took full charge of the tie and got their just rewards when they were awarded a penalty after Billy King was fouled in the area by an advancing Alessio Abibi.

Forrester despatched the penalty with ease sending the Dundalk keeper the wrong way. Matty Smith got his second of the game as Sam Stanton's cross-field pass was intercepted by his fellow Scotsman and he found himself one on one with Abibi and calmly slotted the ball past him to put the game beyond doubt.

This result leaves St. Pats still in the hunt albeit with a game more played of league leaders Shamrock Rovers, for Dundalk despite European performances it's domestic matters that may need more attention if they want more of the same next season.

Dundalk

1Alessio Abibi Goalkeeper
4Andy Boyle Defender
7Michael Duffy Midfielder
9Patrick Hoban Forward 25'
10Greg Sloggett 8 Midfielder
11Patrick McEleney Midfielder
13Raivis Jurkovskis 6 Defender
15Darragh Leahy Defender
16Sean Murray Midfielder
18Will Patching Midfielder
23Cameron Dummigan Midfielder
14Peter Cherrie Goalkeeper
6Sonni Nattestad 13 Defender
8Sam Stanton 10 Midfielder
19Wilfried Zahibo Midfielder
25Val Adedokun Forward
27Daniel Kelly Midfielder
28Ryan O’Kane Forward
29David McMillan Forward
77Han Jeong-woo Forward

St. Pat's Ath

1Vitezslav Jaros Goalkeeper
2John Mountney 4 Midfielder
3Ian Bermingham Defender 68'
5Lee Desmond Defender 29'
8Chris Forrester 6 Midfielder 73'
11Jason McClelland Forward
12Matty Smith Forward 40', 78'
16Alfie Lewis Midfielder
18Ben McCormack Midfielder 70'
19Nahum Melvin-Lambert 15 Forward 11'
29Paddy Barrett Defender
21Barry Murphy Goalkeeper
4Sam Bone 2 Defender
6Jamie Lennon 8 Midfielder
9Kyrian Nwoko Forward
10Ronan Coughlan Forward
15Billy King 19 Forward
31Kian Corbally Midfielder
  • 90'

    A brace of goals from Matty Smith and strikes from Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Chris Forrester gave St. Patricks Athletic collects an important three points on the road as they hit Dundalk for four and they took full advantage of a side distracted by their European ambitions in Oriel Park. This now sees the two sides seventeen points apart and despite games in hand this has to be a worrying result for Vinny Perth’s men as they were completely outplayed in the second half by a resurgent and ruthless Saints.

  • 90'

    Fantastic save to deny Hoban who has gone down injured as he attempted to restore some parity to the game.

  • 85'

    Wilfried Zahibo and Han Jeong Woo come on.

  • 85'

    Michael Duffy and Patrick McEleney come off

  • 78'

    Matty Smith scores for St. Pats, the ball fell to him unmarked on the edge of the area and he calmly slots it past Abibi. Game set and match.

  • 77'

    OFF THE POST! Sean Murray with a low curling effort that strikes off the butt of the post and wide.

  • 75'

    Ravis comes off after a solid display.

  • 75'

    Sonni comes on for the last fifteen minutes

  • 73'

    Forrester converts the penalty and Pats now lead 3-1.

  • 73'

    PENALTY ST PATS! Abibi fouls King.

  • 70'

    Bermingham is booked.

  • 70'

    On comes, McMillan as Dundalk now reverts to a 4-4-2 formation.

  • 70'

    Will Patching comes off.

  • 63'

    Billy King comes on for Nahum Melvin-Lambert

  • 60'

    McMillian is stripped and ready to enter the game.

  • 60'

    What a block by Ben McCormack to stop a powerful Patrick McEleney shot that was surely goalbound.

  • 55'

    What a save! Jaroslav sees the curling free-kick from Patching and tips it over the bar for a corner.

  • 55'

    Smith gets a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

  • 53'

    An incredible block from the St. Pat's defender as Michael Duffy's goalbound effort was blocked and cleared for a corner by the Waterford native.

  • 50'

    Bone comes on for the injuried Mountney.

  • 50'

    Mountney comes off injured.

  • 48'

    Sam Rice the St. Pats physio is down with John Mountney and it looks as if his race is run for today.

  • 46'

    Sam Stanton comes on in his place.

  • 46'

    Greg Sloggett is off for the second half.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: St Pats have their noses in front thanks to goals from Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Matty Smith. Pat Hoban had equalised for the home side in what is a very even contest. As it stands, St Pats are currently 17 points clear of Dundalk which is hard to believe on the evidence of the game so far. This has been a very good game.

  • 40'

    Matty Smith puts St. Pats back in the lead, Ben McCormack's initial shot is blocked and saved by the ball falls to Smith who slams it home from close range.

  • 36'

    A fantastic cross into the area was met by Ian Bermingham but it was blocked down and Abibi has the easy task of gathering the ball.

  • 30'

    How did that stay out, the free-kick sent in by Duffy is dropped by Jaroslav and despite McEleney and Sloggett on hand, it is cleared out. Very close for a second goal for Dundalk.

  • 29'

    For a foul on Hoban, Desmond gets a yellow card.

  • 25'

    A fantastic breaking run from Patrick McEleney with the outside of his boot feeds it to Duffy whose shot beats the keeper and Hoban taps it in. We are all square here!

  • 21'

    Big calls for a handball from Dundalk following a corner, Andy Boyle has a second bit of the cherry but the referee calls a free out.

  • 15'

    Dundalk pushing for an equaliser here but as soon as they get to the final third they just can't get a shot away, St. Pats to their credit are holding Dundalk up and ensuring they don't get a passage of play together. They are really frustrating the hosts.

  • 11'

    A corner is sent in that Dundalk fail to clear after Jason McClelland and John Mountney both have shots on goal, Abibi can only parry Mountney's effort and Nahum Melvin-Lambert was on hand to tap it home.

  • 5'

    Ravis has both Murray and Stanton to aim for with a pass and he goes for the latter, Stantons effort is well saved by Vitezslav Jaros.

  • 1'

    And we are underway at Oriel Park, the game is underway and Dundalk are shooting down the traditional 'Carrick Road' end for the first half.

  • An interesting spectator here today: Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins is in attendance for today's game and He is joined by Paddy McCourt.

  • The teams are out, the rain has stayed off and the conditions are perfect for today's game. We are all set here in Oriel Park.

  • Team news for St Pats is that coming in is Bermingham, McCormack, Smith, Melvin-Lambert and coming out is Bone, Benson, Burns, King.

  • In terms of team news, Matty Smith returns from suspension. Shane Griffin and Adam Murphy miss out for the away side, Dundalk apart from long term absentees Brian Gartland and Daniel Cleary are at full strength.

  • These are the thoughts of the manager of St Patricks Athletic Stephen O'Donnell: “It is a game we are looking forward to,” O’Donnell told his club’s media team. “Shamrock Rovers away and Dundalk away, the two standard-bearers probably over the last few years domestically so two of the toughest games you can get, and we are under no illusions, it's going to be a very difficult game on Sunday.

  • After a disappointing derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers last time out, St Patrick’s Athletic are back in league action this weekend as they take on the European high flyers.

  • Cameron Dummigan returns to the starting lineup for Dundalk with four changes in total from Thursday night's 2-2 draw against SBV Vitesse. Vinny Perth using squad rotation to his disposal when needed with a high level of games at present.

  • Good Afternoon from Oriel Park, Ciaran Callan here for today's game between Dundalk FC and St. Patricks Athletic. Team news is coming up next.

Past Meetings

(Series 14)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

(Series 5)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v St. Patrick's Athletic

(Series 15)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

(Series 6)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v St. Patrick's Athletic

4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

5 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

6 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

5 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

4 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1 - 4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

Officials

RefereeAssistants
Robert HarveyRob Clarke
Wayne McDonnell

Ground

Oriel Park
Carrickmacross Road, Dundalk No. 3 Urban, The Municipal District of Dundalk, County Louth, Leinster, A91 RC44, Ireland

Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.