DUNDALK FC 1-2 ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Eoin Kenny scored a dream first league goal for Dundalk but their relegation fears worsened as Saint Patrick’s Athletic came from behind to win on the road for the first time in almost seven months, with Stephen Kenny’s side coming out on top 2-1 at Oriel Park on Thursday night.

In this rearranged fixture, Dundalk had the perfect start as Kenny headed them into a second-minute lead against the team managed by his father, and it was an advantage that they held until the break, the Saints going closest in the first half through Brandon Kavanagh who struck the post.

But St Pat’s were level ten minutes after the resumption through a fabulous piece of skill from defender Tom Grivosti. Jake Mulraney went within inches of turning the game around before the hour mark but his shot flew past the top corner.

The visitors, though, hit the front on 68 minutes as Mulraney turned provider for substitute Mason Melia to finish from close range. Dundalk battled for a way back into the game and centre-half Andy Boyle saw his effort cleared off the line.

Manager Jon Daly emptied the bench in an attempt to gain a vital point in the battle at the bottom and the home side had a loud penalty shout in injury-time after sub Dara Keane went down in the box, but that was waved away as Dundalk suffered another home defeat.

For the game, Daly made three changes to the side which narrowly lost out to title-chasing Shelbourne six days earlier. Jad Hakiki made a welcome return alongside Ryan O’Kane and Robbie Benson as Seán Keogh, Robbie Mahon and Jamie Gullan dropped to the bench.

Dundalk hit the front after just 79 seconds. Dan Pike’s long throw-in was flicked on in the box by the boot of centre-half Hayden Cann and Kenny was perfectly placed to nod the ball past Joseph Anang from close in.

The home side threatened again almost immediately but then they were almost architects of their own downfall as Felix Goddard was caught in no-man’s land but Kavanagh’s effort came back off the post. On nine minutes, Aidan Keena got in behind but Dundalk survived the scare.

On 17 minutes, after a strong challenge from Boyle on Keena, Dundalk played the ball forward and O’Kane cleverly created an opening for himself in the area with his strike pushed away by Anang, with Kenny denied the chance to get his foot on the loose ball.

On 28 minutes, St Pat’s looked to be in on goal when Alex Sjoberg’s pass from his own half split the Dundalk centre backs as Keena raced in but Boyle – who later appealed for an offside – produced a fantastic last-ditch block to deny the former Sligo Rovers marksman.

With ten minutes to the break, Daryl Horgan’s corner was attacked by Cann but, under pressure eight yards out, his header was straight at Anang. Jamie Lennon then tried his luck from distance but his deflected shot fell into the arms of Goddard.

On 43 minutes, O’Kane burst into the box but his ball across the face of goal was knocked behind for a corner, with Horgan’s delivery punched away by the Saints ‘keeper. Pike then launched another long throw into the danger zone but it too was cleared and, soon after, Kenny shot over as Dundalk took a slender lead into half-time.

Early in the second half, Pike’s throw again caused problems for St Pat’s but this time they got the ball clear as Dundalk searched for a precious second goal.

But Kenny’s side equalised on 55 minutes. A free-kick from Kavanagh was not dealt with by Dundalk and a combination of Anto Breslin and Joe Redmond set up Grivosti whose acrobatic effort gave Goddard no chance.

Dundalk responded with attack which saw Hakiki and Horgan have shots blocked. St Pat’s then almost took the lead on 57 minutes when Mulraney found space on the left angle of the box and he stepped inside it before curling a shot inches past the far top corner.

Past the hour mark, Kenny called on young striker Melia to replace Keena. On the home bench, Daly was looking to bring on Scott McGill and Gullan, but in the meantime, St Pat’s took the lead as Mulraney’s left-footed cross from the right ended with Melia flicking into the net at the near post.

On 70 minutes, Dundalk could not have gone closer to a leveller as Horgan swung in a free-kick from the left for Boyle to challenge for at the back post, with the ball dropping for the centre-half to hook it goalwards only for Lennon to clear it off the line.

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Daly threw on Norman Garbett and Mahon as Dundalk went all-out-attack in an attempt to find a priceless point. But Goddard was the next ‘keeper into action as he pushed away Kavanagh’s strike.

Keane made a welcome return to competitive action with three minutes of the 90 left, and Dundalk put plenty of pressure on their opponents in the final moments of the game. They had an injury-time penalty shout dismissed after Keane was tripped in the area, but they could not force an equaliser as they fell to a fourth loss in five home games.

The defeat is a costly one for Dundalk as they failed to take advantage of their game in hand on their County Louth and relegation rivals Drogheda United, who remain a point clear of them at the bottom of the table with both teams now having seven games left.

DUNDALK FC: Felix Goddard, Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney, Aodh Dervin (Dara Keane 87), Robbie Benson (Jamie Gullan 69), Daryl Horgan, Jad Hakiki (Scott McGill 69), Ryan O’Kane (Norman Garbett 75), Eoin Kenny (Robbie Mahon 75). Subs not used: Ross Munro (GK), Koen Oostenbrink, Mayowa Animasahun, Seán Keogh.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Joseph Anang, Axel Sjoberg, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Anto Breslin, Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester, Zach Elbouzedi, Brandon Kavanagh (Aaron Bolger 83), Jake Mulraney (Jason McClelland 71), Aidan Keena (Mason Melia 62). Subs not used: Danny Rogers (GK), Alex Nolan, Conor Keeley, Ryan McLaughlin, Luke Turner, Al-Amin Kazeem.

REFEREE: Damien MacGraith.

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