St Pats run out emphatic winners against Dundalk FC

Dundalk FC were handed a sobering lesson in the demands of top-flight football as St Patrick’s Athletic ran out emphatic 4-0 winners in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at Richmond Park.

Having drawn their opening three fixtures on returning to the top tier — most recently an impressive 1-1 result away to champions Shamrock Rovers — Dundalk arrived in Inchicore with momentum and a measure of optimism.

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They departed chastened after an evening in which St Pats’ greater sharpness and incision told.

Four different scorers underlined the hosts’ dominance. Romal Palmer opened the scoring, followed by Sean Hoare, Zach Elbouzedi and Aidan Keena as Stephen Kenny’s side imposed themselves with authority.

The warning signs were evident early. Inside two minutes Elbouzedi’s cross-cum-shot required a routine stop from Conor Kearns. Dundalk responded on 10 minutes when Bobby Burns’ corner was met by Rob Cornwall, Joseph Anang gathering comfortably.

Thereafter, the home side began to assert control. Cornwall was required to block from Kian Leavy, while James Brown shot straight at Kearns. At the other end, Anang reacted sharply to keep out Daryl Horgan after the winger had engineered space on the edge of the area.

Leavy, lively throughout, delivered invitingly for Ryan Edmondson, who headed wide when unmarked. The reprieve was brief. On 20 minutes Palmer raced clear and, although denied initially by Kearns, the danger persisted.

Harvey Warren cleared Edmondson’s first follow-up off the line, but the ball was recycled and Palmer applied a crisp finish off the underside of the crossbar to make it 1-0.

Dundalk sought a foothold. Danny Mullen tested Anang, yet it was St Pats who struck again on 26 minutes. Jamie Lennon’s inswinging corner was glanced home deftly by Hoare, the defender rising unchallenged to double the advantage.

The visitors’ clearest opening of the half arrived just before the interval. Horgan slipped Eoin Kenny through and the forward, wriggling beyond three defenders, seemed certain to score until Anang produced a superb fingertip save to divert the effort over.

Any lingering hope was extinguished within three minutes of the restart. Leavy’s initial shot was blocked by JR Wilson but the ball broke kindly for Elbouzedi, who drilled low into the corner for 3-0.

Dundalk’s night was further summed up shortly after. Gbemi Arubi forced the ball home amid a scramble, only for the effort to be ruled out after earlier attempts by Arubi and Kenny had been repelled by Luke Turner and Lennon.

Later from a corner, Anang misjudged his punch and Warren’s touch sent the ball against the post.

Chances continued to come and go. Harry Groome fired over, while Chris Forrester and Darragh Nugent were off target for the hosts. The contest was settled long before the 83rd minute, but Keena added gloss to the scoreline, converting the rebound after Wilson had blocked Leavy’s drive.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; James Brown (Darragh Nugent 73), Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare (Tom Grivosti 53), Luke Turner; Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley; Kian Leavy, Romal Palmer (Chris Forrester HT), Zach Elbouzedi (Jason McClelland 55); Ryan Edmondson (Aidan Keena 73)

Subs not used: Danny Rogers (gk), Max Mata, Billy Canny, Glory Nzingo

Dundalk FC: Conor Kearns; JR Wilson, Harvey Warren, Rob Cornwall (Conor O’Keeffe 82), Tyreke Wilson (Gbemi Arubi HT); Keith Buckley (Harry Groome 57), Aodh Dervin (Ronan Teahan HT); Eoin Kenny (Declan McDaid 57), Daryl Horgan, Bobby Burns; Danny Mullen

Subs not used: Enda Minogue (gk), Shane Tracey, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork)

Attendance: 4,427