Wilson and Treacy help Lilywhites continue impressive return as Saints are stung
BOYS DONE GOOD: Goalscorers Tyreke Wilson, left, and Shane Tracey of Dundalk celebrate after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Dundalk and St Patrick's Athletic at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
First half goals from Tyreke Wilson and Shane Treacy saw Dundalk extend their incredible start to life back in the Premier Division as they ended St Patrick’s Athletic’s seven match unbeaten run at Oriel Park.
Stephen Kenny’s side were the only team who had got the better of the Louth men in the first series – winning 4-0 at Richmond Park on February 27th – but they were very much second best to Ciarán Kilduff’s men, even after the hosts were reduced to 10 men following Daryl Horgan’s dismissal 10 minutes from the end.
It was the visitors who were first to threaten on five minutes with Enda Minogue forced to make a fine stop to deny Max Mata after he was picked out all too easily by James Brown’s cross. Jason McClelland’s follow up was then blocked by Conor O’Keeffe.
That was to prove crucial as Dundalk hit the front three minutes later with Tyreke Wilson’s strike from Gbemi Arubi’s pass taking a deflection off Darragh Nugent before looping up and over the helpless Joseph Anang.
Horgan then fired wide for the Louth men before playing a role in his side’s second on 21 minutes. A slip by Nugent was seized upon by Tracey, who released his captain out wide. His cross was pushed clear by Anang but only as far as Tracey, who slammed home his first goal for his home town club just two days after his 20th birthday.
The hosts continued to dominate the chances in the period after with St Pat’s having their best first half spell in the minutes before the break. McClelland should have halved the deficit when he cut in from the left before cutting back onto his right foot on 42 minutes but blazed his effort over.
Ryan Edmondson, who had replaced fellow sub Romal Palmer, had a big chance six minutes after the restart after he was teed up by Joe Redmond at the edge of the box but he pulled his effort to the left and wide.
Despite plenty of hustle and bustle, there were no real chances of note after that until the 80th minute when Arubi was denied by Anang after overpowering Redmond to a route one ball. From the resultant corner, Horgan picked up a second yellow for his delay in taking it but despite the numerical advantage, St Pat’s couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Elsewhere in Louth, Drogheda United were stunned when visitors Galway United battled back from 2-0 down to plunder a 3-2 victory. Mark Doyle and Jago Godden gave the hosts a great start within 18 minutes before Francely Lomboto pulled one back for John Caulfield's side.
The veteran manager conjured a game-changing double change after the break as subs Kris Twardek and Axel Piesold found the goals to take all three points.
Minogue; T Wilson, Warren, O’Keeffe (Animasahun 56) Spaight (JR Wilson HT); Dervin, Burns (Buckley HT); Kenny (McDaid 72), Tracey (Groome 56), Horgan; Arubi.
Anang; Redmond, Hoare (Nzingo 76), Turner; Brown, Baggley, Nugent (Lennon HT), McClelland; Leavy (Forrester 76), Keena (Palmer 17) (Edmondson 44) ; Mata.
Aaron O’Dowd
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