Dundalk FC held to draw against Pats in Inchicore

Dundalk FC and St Patrick’s Athletic shared the spoils after an entertaining 1-1 draw in Friday night’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division encounter at Richmond Park.

Daryl Horgan’s penalty handed Dundalk a deserved half-time lead, but former Lilywhites defender Sean Hoare restored parity after the interval with a trademark header. Neither side could find a winner despite chances at both ends in an absorbing contest.

St Pats made the brighter start and felt they should have been awarded a penalty after eight minutes. Aidan Keena’s shot was blocked by Rob Cornwall before the ball struck the arm of Aodh Dervin, but play continued and Anto Breslin blazed over from close range on the rebound.

The home side squandered another excellent opportunity moments later. Breslin’s cross eluded the Dundalk defence and picked out Keena unmarked at the back post, but the striker sliced his finish wide.

Enda Minogue was then called into action, standing tall to deny Ryan Edmondson after the forward had been slipped through by Keena.

Dundalk gradually wrestled control and created their first opening after 24 minutes. Harry Groome released Trevor Clarke, whose shot took a deflection off Hoare before clipping the post.

Horgan soon delivered a cross that was met by Mayowa Animasahun, although the defender’s header lacked direction and was comfortably gathered by Joseph Anang.

By that stage Dundalk were dictating the tempo. St Pats struggled to clear their lines and the ball eventually broke to Horgan, whose effort failed to trouble Anang.

The breakthrough arrived after 36 minutes. Horgan’s cross found Clarke, who was bundled over by Breslin, leaving referee Kevin O’Sullivan with little option but to point to the spot. Horgan made no mistake, driving his penalty high down the middle to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Ciaran Kilduff’s side had strong claims for a second penalty before the break when Ronan Teahan surged forward and picked out Clarke, whose shot appeared to strike the arm of Luke Turner.

Dundalk continued to threaten before the interval. Groome volleyed straight at Anang before Bobby Burns fired harmlessly at the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time.

St Pats emerged with renewed purpose after the restart. Within three minutes Keena’s low effort drifted narrowly wide before Ardee native Kian Leavy forced Minogue into a fine save with a curling strike that the Dundalk goalkeeper pushed around the post.

The equaliser arrived after 57 minutes and exposed a familiar weakness in Dundalk’s defence. Hoare rose highest to head home Keena’s corner from the left, marking the 17th set-piece goal conceded by the Lilywhites in this season’s Premier Division.

The hosts almost completed the turnaround with 12 minutes remaining. Keena’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Turner before Tyreke Wilson produced a crucial goal-line clearance, allowing Minogue to gather the loose ball.

Dundalk finished strongly and were denied another penalty when Teahan’s cross struck Leavy, with appeals for handball dismissed. Deep into stoppage time Animasahun headed narrowly wide from Horgan’s delivery, leaving both sides to settle for a point in Inchicore.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare, Luke Turner (Darragh Nugent 90); Jamie Lennon; James Brown, Kian Leavy, Barry Baggley (Chris Forrester 57), Anto Breslin (Jason McClelland 57); Ryan Edmondson (Sam Rooney 76), Aidan Keena

Subs not used: Danny Rogers (gk), Tom Grivosti, Billy Canny, Joe Carroll-Byrne, Ryan Sheridan

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Tyreke Wilson, Mayowa Animasahun, Rob Cornwall (Egor Vassenin HT), Bobby Burns (Shane Tracey 76); Harry Groome, Aodh Dervin (Keith Buckley HT); Trevor Clarke (Declan McDaid 69), Ronan Teahan, Daryl Horgan; Cian Dillon (Leo Gaxha 77)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Luke Mulligan, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)

Attendance: 4,510