19.45 20 Mar 2015 -
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
League Preview: Dundalk -v- St. Patrick's Athletic
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Mar 19 2015
DUNDALK
Dundalk will be looking to extend their perfect start to the season on Friday night as they host St. Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park.
Stephen Kenny has seen his side win their first two games, results that Kenny will be looking to build on them this Friday night.
“We have had a great start. Two wins and two clean sheets so far is exactly what we would have wanted,” Kenny told dundalkfc.com.
“We want to push on and keep that going. Each game is difficult and we will go out to try ring every game,” he added.
Despite his side’s excellent start to their 2015 Premier Division campaign, the ex- Derry City boss is anticipating a tough test on Friday night.
“Friday night will be a tough match, St. Patrick’s Athletic are a good side but we’ve prepared well and are ready for the game,” Kenny concluded.
Lilywhites full-back Sean Gannon, who is set to play against his former side on Friday night knows how tough the tie against The Saints will be. However, he believes that the Louth side will take confidence from their positive start to the season.
“We’ve made it two wins from two and that’s all you can ask for really. We’re happy with that,” the defender explained to dundalk fc.com.
Dundalk beat St Pat’s 2-1 in the President’s Cup final earlier on this month, but 22 year-old Gannon understands that the Lilywhites will have to be at their best if they’re to repeat the feat on Friday night.
“We played St. Patrick’s Athletic a couple of weeks ago in the President’s Cup and it was a really tough game. They were good on the day and it was a difficult match.
“Every game is tough, no matter who it’s against but we will prepare well and look forward to it,” Gannon concluded.
Lilywhites Captain Stephen O’Donnell remains sidelined for the game with his long term knee injury. Otherwise, Stephen Kenny has a full squad to pick from.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
Liam Buckley’s St Patrick’s Athletic side will be looking to follow up last week’s 3-0 home win over Bray Wanderers by picking up their first three points on the road this season.
Like his opposite number Stephen Kenny, Buckley is anticipating a tight game at Oriel Park on Friday night.
“Games between ourselves and Dundalk are always very tight, as was the case a few weeks ago (in The President’s Cup final) where only a few little things proved to be the difference,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com.
“I’d expect it to be the same on Friday so from our end of things, the players know they have to be switched on andproduce a performance on the night. If they do that, we’ve got a chance,” the former Sporting Fingal boss added.
After making his first start of the season in last Friday’s win over Bray Wanderers, Saints defender Sean Hoare is hopeful that The Saints can kick on with a result at Oriel Park this Friday night.
“It was great to get the win last week against Bray as it’s been a bit stop start for me having sat out the Shamrock Rovers game,” Hoare told stpatsfc.com.
“After putting in a performance last week, we’re looking forward to improving on that and taking it into the game against Dundalk,” the defender added.
Liam Buckley will continue to be without the services of defensive duo Jason McGuinness and Ger O’Brien for the trip to county Louth.
The Saints boss could give a debut to American midfielder Morgan Langley on Friday night, after he completed his first full week of training with the Inchicore side.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
MATCH STATS
Dundalk’s last home league defeat came back in March of 2013.
No Premier Division side lost fewer games on their travels than St Patrick’s Athletic last season.
St Pat’s haven’t beaten Dundalk at Oriel Park in the league since March 2012.
BETTING
Home 7/5; Draw 23/10; Away 15/8.
PREDICTION
Dundalk 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic.
Dundalk
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell (Knee).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
St Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: Ger O’Brien (Hamstring), Jason McGuinness (Hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …