NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Despite the fact that they had just recorded their seventh successive league win and have virtually clinched the title if they can get back the 15 points deducted by the league, there was quite a subdued mood in the St Patrick's Athletic dressing-room after this game at Oriel Park last night. Dundalk ... 0 St Patrick's Athletic ...1
Club president Jim O'Flaherty, summed it up when he told waiting press: "There will be no triumphalism. In view of the legal position we want to present a dignified team and manager to our fans tonight."
In spite of this, however, there was no doubting that several hundred St Patrick's supporters who made the journey from Dublin believed they were the champions and gave team manager Pat Dolan a rousing reception when he addressed them from the stand afterwards.
This was always going to be a tense game and so it turned out, as it was decided by a single score midway through the second half.
That score came as a result of a kick taken by Martin Russell - it did not look a great effort, but was mis-headed by Dundalk defender Stephen McGuinness and fell for Colm Foley to score.
Foley, was quite modest about his achievement, saying: "Martin's free kick was diverted towards me and I just hit it."
Dundalk can count themselves a little unlucky not to have got something from this game, but the truth is that the honours must go to the St Patrick's defence, and goalkeeper Séamus Kelly in particular. He made two brilliant saves after his team had gone in front and stopped Dundalk from earning a draw which they might have deserved.
The first half was a pretty negative affair with the home side having the better scoring chances. The best of these fell to David Hoey after a mix-up between goalkeeper Kelly and defender Willie Burke that left the Dundalk player in for what looked like an easy score. However, St Patrick's defender Daragh Maguire got in for a last-minute tackle which diverted the ball for a corner which proved fruitless.
Maguire was always the lynchpin of the St Patrick's defence and, helped by Trevor Croly, stifled Dundalk's best efforts in the closing stages.
Dundalk's biggest setback came 15 minutes into the second half when their leading scorer of recent games, James Kelly, had to limp off with an injury received shortly beforehand.
Foley's all-important goal came about 10 minutes later and although Dundalk threw all they had into the closing stages, they could not breach the visitors' defence.
Goalkeeper Kelly showed his worth 15 minutes from the end when he made a great save from a close header by substitute Chris Lawless and then within a minute brought off an even better one from a good snap shot by Gary Haylock.
Ten minutes from the end St Patrick's substitute Michael Holt could have wrapped it up for the visitors but ballooned the ball over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Whether they regain their lost points or not, St Patrick's will be in the limelight this coming Easter Sunday.
RTÉ announced yesterday that they will be screening St Patrick's final match, against Longford Town, live on RTÉ One television.
Coverage of the match at Flancare Park, which is fixed for 2.45, will start at 2.40. RTÉ will have a full team on duty: George Hamilton will present the broadcast with former St Patrick's Athletic manager Brian Kerr, while Darragh Moloney and Eoin Hand will be the commentary team.
DUNDALK: Connolly, Whyte, Crawley, Broughan, McGuinness, Flanagan, Kavanagh, Malone, Haylock, Hoey, Keddy.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly, Burke, Croly, Foley, Maguire, Griffin, Livingstone, Ozam, Russell, McCarthy, Marney. Subs: Holt for Marney (55 mins); L Kelly for Livingstone (62 mins).
Referee : J Feighery (Dublin)
