Jon Daly’s Triumphant Return to Richmond Park as Dundalk Shocks St Pat’s in Five-Goal Thriller
In a breathtaking clash at Richmond Park, Jon Daly’s Dundalk secured a stunning 3-2 victory over St Patrick’s Athletic, marking Daly’s triumphant return to his former club. The SSE Airtricity Premier Division match, witnessed by 3,934 fans, saw Dundalk race to a 3-0 lead within the first 22 minutes.
(Also read Primary Schools Struggle with Funding Deficit Due to Increasing Running Costs.)
Dundalk’s Early Blitz Highlight Five-Goal Thriller
Jamie Gullan opened the scoring with a spectacular free-kick just 97 seconds into the game, followed swiftly by Ryan O’Kane’s strike, which capitalised on a Danny Rogers error. Gullan added his second from distance, putting Dundalk firmly in control.
St Pat’s, managed by Daly’s predecessor Stephen Kenny, clawed back into the game with a Chris Forrester penalty and a powerful shot from Jamie Lennon, reducing the deficit to one before halftime. Despite a spirited second-half performance, the hosts couldn’t find an equaliser.
The match featured a poignant moment as 18-year-old Eoin Kenny, son of St Pat’s manager Stephen Kenny, was introduced for the winning team, adding an extra layer of drama to the encounter.
Their first away win of the season lifts them off the bottom of the table, while St Pat’s suffered their first defeat to Dundalk since March 2023. Daly’s victory against his former team adds a personal triumph to a crucial win for it’s campaign.
