General
- Thursday March 19th, 2015 @ 12:55
Team News - Vs Dundalk
St Patrick's Athletic travel to Dundalk on Friday evening for their SSE Airtricity League fixture in Oriel Park as they go in search of their first away win in the league.
The meeting is the second between the sides in the space of three weeks following the President's Cup Final which saw the league champions prevail against the FAI Cup champions, Dundalk claiming a 2-1 victory on the day against Liam Buckley's Saints.
Speaking ahead of this Friday's game, Saints' manager Buckley told stpatsfc.com that his side were looking forward to facing the league champions once more following their recent meeting, and particularly off the back of the side's first win of the season against Bray Wanderers last week.
"We'd a good win last week against Bray and the lads showed in parts of the game what they can do so I was pleased with the result. However we've still a few things to work on so we'll be looking to improve all aspects of our performance heading into Friday against Dundalk."
"Games between ourselves and Dundalk are always very tight, as was the case a few weeks ago where only a few little things proved to be the difference.
I'd expect it to be the same on Friday so from our end of things, the players know they have to be switched on and produce a performance on the night. If they do that, we've got a chance."
Buckley confirmed that the Saints will be without the services of defenders Ger O'Brien and Jason McGuinness through their respective hamstring injuries, however the Saints' manager could give new signing Morgan Langley a debut after the midfielder completed his first week of full training.
For Saints' defender Sean Hoare, the opportunity to face Dundalk so soon after the President's Cup Final is a welcome one, while the defender also reflected on his delight and getting his own league season underway in last week's 3-0 win against Bray Wanderers having missed the Saints' league opener through suspension.
It was great to get the win last week against Bray as it's been a bit stop start for me having sat out the Shamrock Rovers game
Sean Hoare
Preparing for a game that you know you're suspended for is tough, so getting back in the team last week and the fact that we won as well was great," Hoare admitted when talking to stpatsfc.com.
The focus however for the U21 Republic of Ireland international is now solely on Friday's game against the Lilywhites, with the defender determined that the Saints turnaround the side's result against Stephen Kenny's side in the President's Cup Final.
"I thought we were unlucky the last time against Dundalk. Having played up there so recently, it can only benefit us for Friday so hopefully we can go up there and get a result.
After putting in a performance last week, we're looking forward to improving on that and taking it into the game against Dundalk."
