Pat Hoban delighted to be part of Dundalk FC history books

Patrick Hoban didn’t quite enjoy his historic record-breaking 143rd goal in all competitions for Dundalk FC in the manner one might have imagined last Friday night.

That’s because The Lilywhites found themselves 1-0 behind for most of the Louth derby against Drogheda United at Weavers Park – that was until Hoban’s equaliser on 77 minutes, which put him ahead of Joey Donnelly as the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

Typical of the Dundalk captain’s endeavour, he was far more concerned about following up with the three points, as opposed to smashing a record that had stood since 1946.

“I couldn’t really celebrate the equaliser, because you have to get the ball back to the halfway line and win the game,” he said.

“We had serious momentum there. We kind of played ourselves into a bit of danger at times in the second half, which was probably something we shouldn’t have been doing. But I think after that, we played really well.”

Donnelly had topped the list since overtaking Eddie Carroll in 1939, scoring the last of his 142 goals 77 years ago – coincidentally the minute in which Hoban broke the record.

“It’s a great feeling,” added Hoban. “It’s probably something I’m not going to appreciate enough right now. I’m in season and it is a great honour.

“Like I said before, equalling it there against UCD, it is a huge honour for myself, for my family, everyone who supported me in the town, everybody. The boys I’ve been playing with over the years too. It is a great feeling and like I said before, I just have to say thank you to all of them.”

Hoban is contracted with Dundalk until the end of the 2024 season, which affords the 31-year-old plenty of time to add to a record he hopes to see broken again in the future.

“You never know (if it will be repeated). I’d like to see someone try beat it. I’d like to see someone being a long servant at the club like me and a good few other lads that’ve been here over the last 10 years.

“I hope we’ve lads here that want to stay at the club and win things with this club because it’s an unbelievable club and it’s a great history as well.

“And like I said before, I love playing here. I love the town, I love playing at Oriel Park, the Friday night lights in Oriel Park. You can’t get anywhere better than that.”

With 10 minutes remaining, Ryan O’Kane was fouled in the penalty box by Emmanuel Adegboyega, allowing Hoban to score his 144th goal from 12 yards to win it for Dundalk.

“Well I did feel like we were going to get another chance and I like to think if a chance falls to me, I’m going to score. I did feel we were going to get another chance to get the winner, but albeit it was a penalty. It was good to score then, it was a great feeling.

“It’s a young goalkeeper too and he was moving a lot. I didn’t mind it too much. I’m not going to lie, it’s actually a bit daunting taking a penalty that side of Drogheda, because it’s a bit uphill and actually the goal looks a lot smaller, as well, compared to down the other side. But you know, I got good power in it, and you know, he had no chance.”