19.45 17 Aug 2015 -
Referee:
League Preview: Dundalk -v- St Patrick's Athletic
- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, Aug 17 2015
DUNDALK
Dundalk welcome St Parick's Athletic to Oriel Park (kick-off 7.45pm) knowing they'll need to recapture their early season form if they are to repel the advances of the league's current form side.
Stephen Kenny's team extended their winning streak to eight successive St Patrick's Athletic league games with a 2-0 win over Derry City on Friday night, with goals from strikers Ciarán Kilduff and Dave McMillan helping them through a potentially tricky fixture and lifted the Lilywhites seven points clear of second-placed Cork City.
“St. Pat’s are a brilliant side and we have had two really difficult games this season against them,” centre-half Andy Boyle told dundalkfc.com. “We have won them both and I feel they have been entertaining games but they have been tough tests. They have pushed us to our limits and they are the games that you want to be involved in.
“We are in good form, our Dundalk record is outstanding and it’s important that we just look at our own team, performance and results. We are looking forward to the visit of Pat’s, they will come to win the game but we want to win the game and we are looking forward to it. “
Kenny has no injury worries ahead of the game and no suspensions, while new signing Seani Maguire is in line to return after recovering from illness.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
St Patrick's Athletic extended their club-record winning run to nine league games on Friday night as Greg Bolger's first-half goal was enough to down Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park.
Liam Buckley's side's sparkling form has taken them to within nine points of tonight's opponents and just two points shy of Cork City, whom they will overtake should the Leesiders suffer defeat in Tallaght and the Saints take maximum points from the Dundalk of the league leaders.
“Monday night promises to be a really good game,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com. “Dundalk have had a great season and Stephen Kenny has done a good job with them this season. They’re playing well at the moment so we know it will be a difficult game as it always is going to Oriel Park.”
“However, we’re playing well ourselves. We had a really tough game on Monday against Bray who pushed us all the way and could have scored at the end to get a draw. We know we will have to up our performance levels for Monday night as it’s a top of the table clash, but the players are up for the game and will give it their all to get a result.”
Buckley will be without suspended pair Killian Brennan and Morgan Langley after they picked up bookings on Friday, but full-back Ian Bermingham is set to return after serving a suspension of his own. Christy Fagan remains injured, while Ger O'Brien and Ian Morris will have late fitness tests.
Referee: Dave McKeon.
MATCH STATS
Tonight's fixture will be the 200th meeting between the sides, with Dundalk boasting 81 wins to Pats' 72 in that time, though in the league Pats have won 48 to the Lilywhites' 47.
The teams have met three times this season, with Dundalk winning on each occasion as they followed up a 2-1 Presidents Cup win with a 3-0 win at Oriel and a 2-0 victory at Richmond Park.
BETTING
Dundalk evens; Draw 5/2; St Patrick's Athletic 5/2.
PREDICTION
Dundalk 2 – 2 St Patrick's Athletic.
Dundalk
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Unavailable: Ciaran Kilduff (transfer clause).
St Patrick's Athletic
Injured: Christy Fagan (knee).
Doubtful: Ian Morris, Ger O'Brien.
Suspended: Killian Brennan.