DUNDALK MANAGER STEPHEN Kenny is well accustomed by now to starting a new season without key players from the previous campaign.
In 2015 they had to move on from the departure of Patrick Hoban, last year it was Richie Towell and for 2017 they’re coming to terms with the loss of Daryl Horgan.
On each occasion someone else has stepped up to the plate to fill the void, however, and this time appears to be no different. Enter Patrick McEleney.
Kenny earmarked McEleney as Dundalk’s offensive talisman before the start of the season. After three Premier Division games, it’s clear that the 24-year-old playmaker is thriving in his role as a focal point of the Lilywhites’ attacking options.
After turning in an impressive display in the win against Shamrock Rovers on the opening weekend, McEleney gave Dundalk the lead with a delightful free-kick in the 4-0 victory away to Sligo Rovers. On Friday night at Oriel Park he conjured up another moment of magic to score the only goal of the game — a left-footed strike from 30 yards — against Limerick.
Kenny: “It was just a brilliant goal from Patrick to win it. Just a joy to watch. He’s worth the admission money. People should come and watch him and be thankful to see him. It’s great to see a player like that. It’s poetry in motion really. It’s a thing of great beauty when he’s at his fullest, when he’s playing to his full potential.”
Having joined Dundalk last season from Derry City, McEleney returns to face his hometown club tonight in the pick of the ties in a full programme of SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures.
Both sides have a 100% record so far in the league this season, although Derry City are in third, three points adrift of second-placed Dundalk, as their game against Limerick 10 days ago at their temporary Maginn Park home had to be abandoned due to floodlight failure.
With two away wins on the board already, the hosts shouldn’t lack confidence against the champions in Buncrana. A 1-0 win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Friday was preceded a fortnight earlier by a 4-1 triumph against Bohemians.
Elsewhere, it’s top versus bottom tonight as Cork City welcome Sligo Rovers to Turner’s Cross. On the back of Friday night’s 4-1 win away to Drogheda United, the Leesiders lead the standings on goal difference after scoring nine times and conceding just once. Sligo leaked nine in their opening two games — 1-5 and 0-4 losses respectively to Limerick and Dundalk — but Dave Robertson’s men got off the mark on Friday with a 1-1 draw at home to St Pat’s.
That game at the Showgrounds also brought Pat’s their first points of the season. The same can be said of tonight’s opponents Finn Harps, who drew 1-1 at home to Galway United on Friday. Galway were another side registering their first points of the season, which will give them a boost as they return to Eamon Deacy Park for the visit of a Shamrock Rovers side who have already lost twice in their three outings.
Bray Wanderers started their campaign with back-to-back wins over St Pat’s and Finn Harps, but their progress was halted on Friday despite holding a 2-0 second-half lead away to Bohemians. The Gypsies came back to win 3-2 and avoid a third consecutive defeat. Bray host Drogheda United tonight, while Bohs go to Limerick.
Drogheda were denied a third win on the trot by Friday’s aforementioned 4-1 loss to Cork City. In spite of their 1-0 defeat to Dundalk, Limerick will be buoyed by an encouraging performance against the title holders at Oriel Park.
– Additional reporting by Caoimhin Reilly
Predictions
Every week, we’re giving readers the chance to take us on in predicting the Premier Division results. After Week 3, here’s the standings:
The42: 10
The Readers: 9
Next up is Tom Clancy from Limerick…
The Reader (Tom Clancy)
- Galway United v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers win
- Bray Wanderers v Drogheda United – Bray Wanderers win
- Cork City v Sligo Rovers – Cork City win
- Derry City v Dundalk – Dundalk win
- Limerick v Bohemians – Limerick win
- St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps – Draw
The42 (Paul Dollery)
- Galway United v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers win
- Bray Wanderers v Drogheda United – Bray Wanderers win
- Cork City v Sligo Rovers – Cork City win
- Derry City v Dundalk – Draw
- Limerick v Bohemians – Limerick win
- St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps – Draw
I was thinking the same yesterday. Can you imagine a player like Aidan O’Shea was left on the bench for a whole game. There would be a mutiny the day after their championship campaign ended.
@Ned Flanders: cheap shot. O’Shea showed he is the ultimate team player by switching to a totally new position over the last 2 games to help the team get over the line. I guess haters are always gonna hate though
@Pepper Brooks: ultimate team player? That particular tactic nearly blew up in mayos face. In the replay he was soloing around his 21 half way through second half and trying 40 yard outside of boot passes that ran out over the line. If kerry hadnt panicked and had taken points earlier rather than going for goals when 7 down it could have been a very different
@Pepper Brooks: O’Shea wouldn’t make the Dublin bench.
Juniors maybe
@johnnyA the game is also about opinions,for you it’s bitter and twisted against Dublin,while us Dublin fan’s are enjoying every minute of this great Team,so happy days for us Ha Ha ha
@alan dodrill: *fans
It’s a great achievement to show humility when you’re strolling through the championship. Fair play to the Dublin/AIG players for being such good winners. If Gavin exerts such control he must endorse or at least turn a blind eye to the playacting. Cooper at it again yesterday. McCarthy and McCaffrey at it the last day – good footballers but while their fans have brought the worst aspects of UK terrace culture to Gaelic Games the players have brought Neymar type playacting into our national sport. Great lads all the same.
@Johnny A: Why not just enjoy the football instead of always having a bitch , life is too short
@Tony Talbot: the football championship used to mean something. Now it’s completely hollow. Very few meaningful contests – certainly none when Dublin/AIG are involved. Instead of mitigating their natural advantages – population, money, home advantage – the GAA have bolstered these and set them in stone. Teams like Tyrone and Monaghan now come up to Croker with ridiculous defensive systems just to keep the score down. The GAA have to look at the population and reconsider a split – for example Dublin North/AIG & Dublin South/HSBC. There should be an equalisation process with the corporate loot – they should be allowed keep 20-30% with the rest being redistributed. And they should be kept out of Croker a lot more – why not make them play an away semi final for example. I’ll enjoy it then.
@Johnny A: have to hand it to you mate you have bitterness to a new level. Short memories like most non dubs. This golden era has more to do wirh jim gavin than anything else.Maybe he should only be allowed manage smaller counties?
@Johnny A: explain 1995 – 2011??
If you split Dublin now you’d risk an all Dublin All Ireland final and that would be worse! Did you see the bench. Dublin A Vs Dublin B would be some game!
Other counties need to stop making excuses… Kerry has the same population as Wicklow as is the most successful football county by far
Also, let’s split Kilkenny into North & South and actually while we’re at what about the most successful football county, Kerry…well over due a split!!
@Brendan Farrell: if you think a 2 way split isn’t enough and they’d still be too strong then a 4 way split would be ideal. Could be 4 Dublin zones – AIG1, AIG2, AIG3, AIG4. Have their own provincial championship. The metropolitan cup or something like that.
@paddy: I wouldn’t call it bitterness – more like constructive hate.