Dundalk’s Stephen O’Donnell
Ahead of Dundalk’s trip to Inchicore tonight to face champions St Patrick’s Athletic, club captain Stephen O’Donnell has been named in the ‘Most Hated’ team in the League of Ireland.
The team, put together by popular Irish soccer website Balls.ie, has the Galway native in central midfield.
Explaining their reasons for selecting the Dundalk captain, Balls said: “Stephen O’Donnell talks a lot. More specifically he talks to referees a lot. If talking to referees was an Olympic event, he’d be the Usain Bolt of talking to referees. Every single decision is questioned. That leads to loads of stupid bookings for O’Donnell. He was sent off twice last year, both for 2 yellow card offences. He was sent off for pushing Ger O’Brien (Pats) as they argued over a throw in and for diving against Sligo Rovers. His missed panenka last year v Bohs was warmly greeted around the league.”
O’Donnell is certain to get plenty of flak tonight in Richmond Park, having been sent off there last season in a crucial top of the table clash that Dundalk lost which went a long way to deciding the destination of the title.
The midfielder is a firm favourite with Lilywhites fans, however, and has been one of the most impressive performers for Stephen Kenny’s side so far this season, even scoring a crucial last gasp winner against Coleraine in the Setanta Sports Cup last month.
Kick-off tonight is at 7.05pm, with the game being televised live on RTÉ2.
You can view the full ‘Most Hated’ XI here.
Talk of the Town 