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End of the road for O’Donnell

Defeat to Derry City on Friday night proved to be Stephen O’Donnell’s last match in charge of Dundalk, with the head coach and his assistant Patrick Cregg relieved of their duties on Monday morning. It was his 92nd game in charge of the Lilywhites with his record reading won 40, drew 24 and lost 28. It was also his 80th league game at the helm with his final record reading P80 W35 D22 L23 F115 A90 Pts 127.

Bad start

The 4-1 loss in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night – the side’s heaviest defeat to Derry City since a 4-0 loss at the same venue in October 2012 – leaves Dundalk with just three points accrued and three goals scored from eight matches. That is an identical record to the 1998/’99 season when the Lilywhites were subsequently relegated. That campaign the side had also conceded 15 goals in eight games but had scored double the amount they have currently with six. The first win of that campaign came in match day 10 against UCD.

O’Kane on target

Ryan O’Kane’s consolation strike against Derry City on Friday was his first league goal in 301 days since scoring the equaliser direct from a corner as Dundalk came from behind to beat Cork City 2-1 at Turner’s Cross on June 9 last. The 75th minute finish was his second of 2024, however, having opened the scoring in the Lilywhites’ 3-1 Leinster Senior Cup victory away to Malahide United at Gannon Park back in January.

Duffy and Patching come back to haunt Dundalk

Former Lilywhites Michael Duffy and Will Patching both came back to haunt their old club on Friday night with goals against Dundalk. Duffy, who made 211 appearances across five season at Oriel Park, scored his third goal against his former employers on the night – all of which have come at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. His first goal against Dundalk came almost a decade ago in a 2-2 draw in June 2014 while he had also been on target when Derry won the last meeting between the sides at the Lone Moor Road venue last May. It was also a third goal against Dundalk for Patching, who only scored twice for the Lilywhites during his time at the club. The former Man City player had notched a double when Derry won 3-1 in the side’s last meeting at Oriel Park last September. Adam O’Reilly, who had earlier opened the scoring, also scored his second goal against Dundalk on the night having previous scored against the Lilywhites for St Pat’s in a 2-1 win at Oriel Park in October 2022 – Stephen O’Donnell’s first home defeat.

Keane’s debut

Dara Keane came off the bench to replace Scott High on Friday night for what was his Dundalk debut. The midfielder, signed from UCD on December 22, hadn’t played a minute of league action since featuring for the Students in their 3-2 defeat away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park in the penultimate game of last season on October 27.

Falling behind

Adam O’Reilly’s opener for Derry City on Friday night meant that Dundalk have fallen behind in five of their eight league games so far this season and in 28 of their last 44 league matches stretching back to the start of the 2023 campaign. O’Reilly’s goal was just the third first-half goal that the Candystripes have scored so far this season.

Poor away record

Ryan O’Kane’s consolation strike for Dundalk at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night was just the 39th away goal that the Lilywhites have scored in 40 away league matches under Stephen O’Donnell – five of those coming on the final day of last season against an already relegated UCD.

Mountney moves up list

Having made his long awaited comeback from injury against Shelbourne the previous week off the bench, John Mountney started his first away fixture since another trip to the North West - Dundalk’s 2-1 win away to Finn Harps on October 14 2022. It was the Mayo man’s 125th league start for the club and 322nd game in total, moving him up to joint 12th in the club’s all-time appearance list alongside Joe Ralph. His first away win as a Dundalk player had came at the Brandywell on April 20 2012 when Dundalk won 2-1. Michael Rafter and Shane O’Neill had Seán McCaffrey’s side 2-0 up before Ruaidhrí Higgins scored an 84th minute consolation.

Landmark for Mayowa

Defender Mayowa Animasahun hit a notable landmark against Derry City on Friday night when he made the 50th senior appearance of his career. A total of 35 of those came on-loan at Dungannon Swifts with Friday’s match his 15th game for the Lilywhites – the same number as his jersey.

First start for Mahon

Robbie Mahon made not only his first league start for Dundalk on Friday night but also his first start in the League of Ireland. Between his time at Oriel Park prior to Friday and previously at Bohemians, the 20-year-old had played just 83 minutes of league action before the Derry match. Mahon last started a league fixture on December 30 while on-loan at Edinburgh City in Scottish League One. He scored in their 5-2 defeat to Hamilton Academical that day for what was his fifth game in-a-row scoring.