Saints blitz Dundalk to keep title hopes alive

Daire Walsh

A brace from Matty Smith was the highlight at Oriel Park this afternoon as St Patrick’s Athletic recorded a comprehensive 4-1 triumph against Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Following their 3-1 defeat at the hands of champions Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last Friday, Stephen O’Donnell’s charges could ill-afford to lose further ground to their city rivals in the top-flight title race. With Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Chris Forrester also rattling the net, the Inchicore men registered their 13th win of the campaign to keep themselves in the hunt for the top prize.

As it stands, Pat’s remain just three points adrift of the Hoops – albeit with a game more played. It looked like the gap was set to be reduced to the bare minimum, until Liam Scales produced a late winner for Shamrock Rovers in their showdown with Longford Town.

While it was a convincing success in the end for Pat’s, it wasn’t always plain sailing. Melvin-Lambert did shake the Lilywhites net after the hosts (managed by Tallaght native Vinny Perth) failed to clear a corner on 11 minutes, but parity was restored just past the first-quarter mark.

So often the go-to man in the Dundalk attack, Patrick Hoban supplied the finishing touches to a Michael Duffy cross to edge his side back into contention. The Saints didn’t panic, however, and a clinical Smith strike – after Ben McCormack had an initial shot blocked – gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at the interval.

There was a sense Pat’s needed a third goal to put the final outcome beyond doubt and the insurance score finally arrived on 72 minutes. Dundalk custodian Alessia Abibi upended Billy King inside the area and Forrester stepped forward to slot home the resultant spot-kick.

Pat’s were now brimming with confidence and Smith’s second with 11 minutes remaining completed a fine day at the office for St Pat’s. The Saints will now seek to maintain their title push when they welcome Waterford to Richmond Park on Friday.