Saints leave old boss with blues
Keating on target to add to Dundalk’s woes
FOR Stephen O’Donnell, the Dublin blues continued last night at Richmond Park, a ground where once he was king.
This was O’Donnell’s 22nd game in the capital as Dundalk boss since controversially leaving the Saints at the end of 2021, and he’s overseen just three wins, two of them against UCD.
With just 213 travelling fans among the 4,513 attendance, a sense of apathy is creeping into the Dundalk faithful whose team remain rooted to the foot of the table.
One goals in four games this season — and that a free kick — is a grim return for a team sorely missing the departed Patrick Hoban, who bagged a hat-trick last night for Derry City.
In contrast, the Saints possess Ruairi Keating, who took his chance on the half hour and might have had more.
The Saints bossed most of the second half with Kian Leavy running the show but a second goal eluded them which gave Dundalk hope. To their credit, they raised a late gallop, only to fall short.
While not back to the levels of last season, the Saints were fair value for the win in a game of fits and starts.
Watching from the director’s box was Brian Kerr, the technical advisor to the Irish team, who puffed his cheeks after seven minutes of stoppage time as the finish was edgier than it needed to be.
After three straight defeats, the Saints reverted to a back four for the first time this season.
While Joe Redmond was more comfortable in a central position, it was a last ditch tackle by his defensive partner Luke Turner to deny James Gullan in the 79th that carried the greatest currency.
After shipping goals in Monday’s defeats, both managers changed their goalkeepers, with Danny Rogers starting for Pat’s and Ross Munro for Dundalk — neither had started a league match since 2022.
For Dundalk, who leaned on the likes of Richie Blackmore and Gary Rogers for so long, uncertainty over their No 1 is not something they are familiar with.
Munro, the busier of the two in the opening half, didn’t inspire confidence early on but he made amends later.
The Scot slipped as a cross was whipped in from the left and was scrambling across goal as the ball was bundled past the far post. From a corner soon after, Munro came, stopped, and then retreated.
It wasn’t exactly the look of a keeper on top of his game but, in fairness, he wasn’t at fault for the only goal of the game on the half hour.
Rather, it was the Dundalk defence that was split open by Chris Forrester’s punt forward, which allowed Brandon Kavanagh to tee up Keating.
Munro, to his credit, blocked Keating’s right-footer but the ball rebounded to the Saints’ striker who made no mistake with his second attempt.
At the other end, Rogers also endured a moment or two of concern. Close to the break, he dallied on the ball and allowed Scott High to close him down — it was a near thing as the ball squirted across the penalty box.
Instantly, it was returned only for Rogers and Redmond to get their communication lines mixed up, as the ball dribbled between them and out over the end line.
After the break, things were livelier with the Saints on top. Leavy was a persistent threat with his pace and had decent claims for a penalty.
Munro showed his mettle to superbly repel Leavy and Forrester as Dundalk dug in.
Late on, the Lilies found a spark through the introduction of Ryan O’Kane and Sam Durrant, who went close with a left-footer.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers: Freeman, Redmond, Turner, Breslin; Lennon; B Kavanagh (Melia 69), Forrester, Leavy (Nolan 87, McClelland (Mulraney 69); Keating (C Kavanagh 87). Scorer: Keating 30. DUNDALK: Munro; Davies, Boyle, Annesley (Elliott 84), Muller; High, Benson, Bradshaw (Durrant 61), McGuckin (O’Kane 70), Gullan (Mahon 84), Horgan (Oostenbrink 61). Referee: R Matthew (Westmeath).
● The two postponed Premier Division games from last weekend have been re-fixed. Bohemians versus Dundalk will be played on Monday, April 15 with Shamrock Rovers against Drogheda United on Monday, April 29.