Details

Date Time League Season
28 May 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Much needed win for Dundalk

A Sam Bone own goal and a 100th league goal for David McMillan sealed a victory for Dundalk, to give Stephen O’Donnell’s St Patrick's Athletic a blow on their Premier Division challenge at Richmond Park tonight.

The away side were disciplined and compact when needed to be against a free attacking Saints however when it came to converting chances into goals it was Dundalk who were ruthless in execution.

David McMillan forced Bone to turn the ball into his net but there was no denying the second as the Lilywhites relied on some of the ‘old guard’ of Oriel Park to give them the much-needed win going into the mid-season break.

While some players have come into criticism this season, seasoned players Andy Boyle, Chris Shields and Patrick Hoban drew on experience to show what it takes to win big games.

The home side started the brighter when Matt Smith and John Mountney went close, the former gave an early test for Alessio Abibi while Mountneys effort flashed wide. Dundalk nearly opened the scoring thanks to a Patrick McEleney freekick. His low struck effort had to be pushed out by Jaros for a corner.

While St. Pat’s continued to press it was Dundalk who opened the scoring due to some ruthless counterattacking from the away side. In a sweeping move that saw both Hoban and McEleney combine to set up David McMillan to strike a low effort on goal, it was going wide until Sam Bone’s intervention saw him slot it into his net.

Paddy Barrett almost came close to pulling back an equaliser just before halftime but his powerful header from a corner went wide.

The away side added to their tally early in the second half as McMillan added goal one hundred to his list, the ball came out to Patrick Hoban on the right and his low cross into the area but met by McMillan who despite having Jaros and Bone’s close attention sent the ball into the roof of the net.

For much of the second half, Dundalk had to defend with their lives to maintain the lead and Andy Boyle was called in to block Ronan Coughlan and Billy King’s goal-bound efforts.

It was a night that saw two sides of Dundalk that have been missing for a long time, but St. Patricks Athletic will feel that they had chances in the game to get something out of it. The Saints will still be in the hunt for that number one place after the mid-season break despite this setback. 

St. Pat's Ath.

1Vitezslav Jaros Goalkeeper
2John Mountney 9 Midfielder
3Ian Bermingham 18 Defender
4Sam Bone Defender 13'
31'
5Lee Desmond Defender
6Jamie Lennon 10 Midfielder
7Robbie Benson Midfielder
8Chris Forrester Midfielder
12Matty Smith Forward
15Billy King Forward
29Paddy Barrett 16 Defender
21Barry Murphy Goalkeeper
25Josh Keeley Goalkeeper
9Nahum Melvin-Lambert 2 Forward
10Ronan Coughlan 6 Forward
16Alfie Lewis 29 Midfielder
27Daniel Norris Forward
31Kian Corbally Midfielder
18Ben McCormack 3 Midfielder

Dundalk

1Alessio Abibi Goalkeeper
4Andy Boyle Defender
5Chris Shields Midfielder
7Michael Duffy Midfielder
8Sam Stanton 19 Midfielder
9Patrick Hoban 16 Forward
10Greg Sloggett Midfielder 61'
11Patrick McEleney Midfielder
13Raivis Jurkovskis Defender
25Val Adedokun Forward
29David McMillan 27 Forward 50'
14Peter Cherrie Goalkeeper
15Darragh Leahy Defender
16Sean Murray 9 Midfielder
19Wilfried Zahibo 8 Midfielder
27Daniel Kelly 29 Midfielder
28Ryan O’Kane Forward
31Mark Hanratty Midfielder
77Han Jeong-woo Forward
90Jesus Perez Midfielder
  • 90'

    FULL TIME: A Sam Bone own goal and a one hundredth league goal for David McMillan sealed a victory for Dundalk to give Stephen O’Donnell’s St Patrick Athletic a blow on their Premier Division challenge. The away side was disciplined and compact when needed to be against a free attacking Saints however when it came to converting chances into goals it was Dundalk who were ruthless in execution. David McMillan forced Bone to turn the ball into his net but there was no denying the second as the Lilywhites relied on some of the ‘old guard’ of Oriel Park to give them the much-needed win going into the mid-season break. While some players have come into criticism this season, seasoned players Andy Boyle, Chris Shields and Patrick Hoban drew on experience to show what it takes to win big games.

  • 85'

    McCormack comes on.

  • 85'

    Bermingham comes off as O'Donnell looks to bring on more attack minded players

  • 85'

    Stanton comes off for Zahibo

  • 85'

    Zahibo comes on

  • 73'

    Melvin-Lambert comes on for Mountney.

  • 73'

    Mountney comes off.

  • 72'

    Andy Boyle once again is called into action with a diving block that denies Billy King's strike giving Abibi trouble.

  • 71'

    A Sean Murray cross could have caused trouble but Jaros despite the attentions of McMillan gathers the ball on the second occasion.

  • 66'

    Murray the former Watford player comes on.

  • 66'

    Hoban comes off and what an effort he has put in tonight, he set up McMillan's goal.

  • 65'

    A landmark goal for David McMillan with his 100th career goal in the league.

  • 61'

    For a foul on Forrester, Greg Sloggett gets a yellow card.

  • 60'

    Fantastic effort from Ronan Coughlan which is excellently cleared off the line, it's a corner to the home side. Could this be one of those 'one of those nights' for Stephen O'Donnell's side?

  • 56'

    Double change for St Patricks Athletic. Ronan Coughlan has come on for Jamie Lennon and Alfie Lewis comes on for Paddy Barrett.

  • 53'

    From a corner sent in Paddy Barrett's header is cleared off the line by his opposite number and former teammate David McMillan.

  • 50'

    And Dundalk double their tally! Hoban runs down the channel and crosses into the area and McMillan on the six yard line gets ahead of Bone and he slams it to the top of the net!

  • 46'

    SECOND HALF: Dundalk gets us back underway and Hoban kicks us off.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: A yellow card and an own goal for Sam Bone as Dundalk currently lead in what has been a tight game, the home side has created chances but haven\'t been clinical enough so far. Big half ahead for both sides in the second period of this match.

  • 42'

    Paddy Barrett nearly gets an equaliser as he heads a powerful effort towards the goal that just goes wide following a corner.

  • 39'

    Michael Duffy gets in behind the St Patricks Athletic defence however the flag is up and his attempt even if it went in would not have counted.

  • 31'

    And Dundalk takes the lead, Dundalk break as Hoban and McEleney link up McMillan whose shot takes a knock off Bone and it goes into his net.

  • 29'

    Hoban's knock down from a cross finds its way to Duffy to hits it first time but it is excellently blocked by Sam Bone to deny a certain goal.

  • 25'

    King gets the ball on the edge of the area, he strikes it on the volley but it is well over the bar. Dundalk's high pressing defenders are giving St. Patricks Athletic ample room to cross the ball into the area.

  • 20'

    Dundalk and St. Patricks Athletic are trading blows at the moment but nothing of note coming as yet. The home side are pressing down the left side of Dundalk's defence as they look to test Val Adedokun on every opportunity.

  • 13'

    Dundalk goes close to scoring from a setpiece. A low struck free-kick by McEleney has to be pushed around the post by Vitezslav Jaros for a corner.

  • 13'

    Sam Bone for a foul on McEleney gets a yellow card, that's his fifth and so a suspension will come his way soon.

  • 10'

    Another good chance for Pat's as former player Mountney hits a low effort but it flashes wide. The home side are knocking on the door a little at the moment.

  • 9'

    A great cross from the right sees Matty Smith head it goalwards but Abibi gets down low to save well, a confidence boost for the Albanian goalkeeper.

  • 7'

    Patrick Hoban returns to the Dundalk side after missing the last seven matches. He has started just one league win in the last year which was the 2-0 win away to Cork City last October in which he scored both goals.

  • 5'

    Five minutes in and both sides haven't had a sight on goal really as yet but a good start. Dundalk showing a lot of promise compared to Monday, Patrick McEleney is looking eager to impress tonight.

  • 1'

    KICK OFF: Robbie Benson gets us underway here at Richmond Park, the home side are playing down towards the old 'shed' end of the ground.

  • St Patricks Athletic are on the pitch, wearing the traditional red jersey. 'The Saints are coming' the song sung by U2 and Greenday is blaring. Will the Saints be coming for Dundalk? Time will tell.

  • Dundalk takes to the pitch, they are wearing the iconic 'GNR' concept jersey which has the letters 'JM' on the back. This is for Dundalk fan and historian Jim Murphy who passed away last year, Jim wrote two books based on the club and his first European trip ever was away to FH Hafnarfjarðar in Iceland in 2016 on the beginning of that epic European adventure.

  • Conditions at Richmond Park look very good at present, when full Richmond Park is one of the best grounds in the country, the fans are right on top of you and in turn it creates a really fantastic atmosphere.

  • David McMillan is the only ex-Pat’s player in the Dundalk starting 11 tonight. He’s had a few memorable moments against them: - First Premier Division goal in May 2010 - First Dundalk goal February 2014 - First league goal for Dundalk April 2014

  • Team news from St Patricks Athletic is that there are three former Dundalk players on St. Pat’s side tonight. It was nine years ago this week on May 25th 2012 that John Mountney scored his first goal for Dundalk against a different St Patricks Athletic in a 1-0 FAI Cup win. Robbie Benson and Paddy Barrett the other two players in the starting lineup. Barrett left Dundalk in 2017 and has since had stints in the USA and Cambodia.

  • Good evening from Final Whistle HQ, Ciaran Callan to bring you through the action as St. Patricks Athletic take on Dundalk in what is the final game of the series before the mid season break.

Past Meetings

(Series 5)
1 - 1
Oriel Park

Dundalk v St. Patrick's Athletic

(Series 15)
1 - 1
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

(Series 6)
1 - 1
Oriel Park

Dundalk v St. Patrick's Athletic

4 - 0
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

0 - 1
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

1 - 0
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1 - 0
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

1 - 1
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

1 - 3
Richmond Park

St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Dundalk FC

5 - 0
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC

0 - 0
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

Ground

Richmond Park
Emmet Road, Kilmainham C ED, Dublin, Dublin 8, Leinster, D08 VK72, 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.