Dundalk booked their place in the Leinster Senior Cup final with a 1-0 victory away to St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park last night.
The only goal of the game came midway through the second half from captain Stephen O’Donnell, with John Mountney later missing a chance to double his side’s lead when his penalty was saved by Pat Jennings.
Dundalk will now play either Bohemians or Shamrock Rovers in the final, with their semi-final due to take place on Friday October 2nd.
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny with Ireland boss Martin O’Neill
Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny has backed UEFA’s proposals for a third European club competition for sides knocked out of the Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds.
Talks about the proposed new tournament took place in Malta this week and while it would be 2018 before a new competition is launched, it would potentially give Irish sides a prolonged run in Europe.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror about the subject today, Kenny said it was something that Irish clubs could not ignore.
He said: “I don’t think anyone in this league is in a position to dismiss the idea but more detail is needed.
“Whatever happens, you wouldn’t want anything to dilute the ambition of clubs striving to be successful in Europe. You wouldn’t want to be ‘settling’ for it.
“You must have that ambition to improve and try to get to the Europa League group stage or the Champions League, which is another step up.”
Kenny added that his side would have benefitted from more European matches this season. You can read the full article here.
Meanwhile, Dundalk’s Leinster Senior Cup semi-final clash away to St Patrick’s Athletic has been fixed for Tuesday evening at 7.45pm in Richmond Park.
The Lilywhites host Drogheda Utd in the league tonight at Oriel Park, where kick off is at 7.25pm to facilitate TV coverage.
Daryl Horgan scored in either half as Dundalk ran out 2-0 winners over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park last night to move six points clear at the top of the table.
The winger gave his side the lead just before the half hour mark when he slotted home a David McMillan pass.
Pats then had defender Kenny Browne sent off in the 36th minute for a second bookable offence.
Stephen Kenny’s side then pushed on for a second goal which duly arrived in the 61st minute when Horgan finished off a good team move involving Dane Massey and Ronan Finn.
Despite going close to adding further goals, the visitors had to rely on a couple of late stops from Gary Rogers to ensure they seen the game out.
Next up for Dundalk is Shelbourne at home in the FAI Cup on Friday night.
One of the club’s anti-flare posters
Dundalk FC are set to issue lifetime bans to a number of individuals who have been identified as being involved in a “number of incidents” in recent weeks.
The lighting of a flare at the end of the defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park last Friday has cost the club an additional €500. The latest figure brings to over €5,000 the amount the Oriel Park outfit have been fined this season domestically, while it also comes hot on the heels of an €18,000 fine from UEFA for supporters standing and waving Palestinian flags during the Europa League game at home to Hajduk Split in July. The club insist they are weighing up their options at present before deciding whether or not to appeal that penalty.
In a statement on the matter, the club said: “Dundalk FC received confirmation that we have been fined a further €500 for the use of a flare at the St Patrick’s Athletic match. The culprits have been identified and bans are being issued. We would like to send our appreciation to those Dundalk supporters who have helped us with this issue.
“We would also like to point out that this fine would be much worse if it wasn’t for Dundalk FC’s Anti-Flare campaign and the co-operation of the vast majority of Dundalk supporters.
“Dundalk FC were also recently fined for the behaviour of three supporters at the Sligo Rovers match. This issue is still under investigation.
“The club are also in the process of banning two more supporters who were on final warnings regarding their behaviour at the club.
“Total fines this season are now approximately €5000. Everybody agrees, apart from a minority of individuals who have done their best to undermine our efforts this season, this is unacceptable.
“We would like to thank Dundalk supporters for their support on this issue.
“With regard to the well-publicised UEFA fine, Dundalk FC has received further information from UEFA that simply re-affirms what we already knew. There was no breakdown of the fine between the two charges. We are currently receiving legal advice on a potential appeal,” said the statement.
RTÉ have confirmed that they will broadcast the FAI cup quarter final tie between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk FC in Tallaght Stadium on Friday September 12th.
The live programme, which will be broadcast on RTÉ Two, will commence at 7pm, with the game now kicking off at the earlier than normal time of 7.05pm.
Dundalk will also be live on RTÉ this Friday night when they travel to Richmond Park to face St Patrick’s Athletic. That game will also have a 7.05pm kick-off.
Dundalk FC’s clash with Derry City, which had been due to go ahead on Friday September 19th, will now take place on Monday September 8th at Oriel Park.
The game has been rescheduled due to the Lilywhites’ EA Sports Cup final appearance against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel on Saturday September 20th.
Three days prior to the Derry game, Stephen Kenny’s side will travel to Richmond Park to face reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic, a game which will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two with a 7.05pm kick-off time.
This Friday Dundalk host Bohemians at Oriel Park. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Dundalk laid down a marker for the season as they crushed title holders 4-1 in Richmond Park last night.
Stephen Kenny’s side had fallen behind in the first half with Chris Forrester firing to an empty net after Peter Cherrie was caught out of goal.
Dundalk were back on level terms five minutes after the restart, however, when John Mountney slammed a free-kick to the bottom left hand corner.
Daryl Horgan then put his side ahead with a stunning long range shot to the top right-hand corner that gave Brendan Clarke no chance.
The game then swung dramatically in Dundalk’s favour when Greg Bolger was dismissed with a quarter of an hour to go after lunging in on Andy Boyle.
The points were then sealed late on when David McMillan curled a shot to the bottom corner before Sean Gannon put the icing on the cake in stoppage time with a superb finish across the face of goal to the far corner after getting on the end of Horgan’s cross.
Next up for Dundalk is the visit of Derry City to Oriel Park on Monday night.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Kenny Browne, Derek Foran, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne (Sean Hoare, 77), Killian Brennan, Greg Bolger, Mark Quigley (Keith Fahey, 63), Christopher Forrester (Daryl Kavanagh, 73); Christy Fagan. Subs not used: Patrick Jennings (GK), Lee Lynch, James Chambers, Conor McCormack.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; John Mountney (Darren Meenan, 79), Chris Shields, Stephen O’Donnell (Ruaidhri Higgins, 90+3), Richard Towell, Daryl Horgan; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan, 75). Subs not used: Kurtis Byrne, Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Gabriel Sava (GK).
Referee: Pauric Sutton (Clare)
Attendance: 1,351
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.
A bus is being organised to travel to Dundalk’s clash away to champions St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park on Friday night.
The bus will depart for the game from the Magnet Centre at 4.45pm with the fare €15 return for adults and €10 for under 18s.
For information or booking contact Tony on 087-2900644.
Friday’s match has a 7.05pm kick-off due to television coverage.
The side will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after being held by Bohemians on Friday night. Highlights of that game can be viewed above.
Meanwhile, Dundalk’s EA Sports Cup match against Bray Wanderers has been scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday May 5th at the Carlisle Grounds.
The game will have a 3pm kick-off on the day.
Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic will be live on RTÉ on April 4th
RTÉ have announced that they will be showing Dundalk’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash with last season’s champions St Patrick’s Athletic live on RTÉ on Friday April 4th.
The game at Richmond Park will now have a 7.05pm kick-off to facilitate TV coverage.
Stephen Kenny’s side will kick-off their campaign in 15 days time away to Drogheda United in United Park. They will then host Limerick FC a week later, before facing a trip to Sligo Rovers and a home clash with Bohemians before their first televised match of the year.
Talk of the Town 