Dundalk (0) - St Patrick's Athletic (0)

Dundalk 0 - St Patrick's Athletic 0

Dundalk's wait for a first win of the season continued at Oriel Park as they were held to their third scoreless draw in a row at home by St Patrick's Athletic.

The Louth side were playing their first match since the sacking of Stephen O'Donnell on Monday but their problems in front of goal continued as this latest blank means they have now gone five home matches in a row without scoring for the first time in their history.

Jon Daly's side came into the game on the back of good wins against Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers that had lifted them to third in the table but they also struggled to find their shooting boots, with Conor Keeley and Mason Melia squandering their best chances.

Dundalk, who had interim bosses Liam Burns and Brian Gartland on the sideline, had a flurry of opportunities early in the second half but only forced one fairly routine save from Danny Rogers over the 90 minutes.

Nevertheless, this represents a good point for a side who remain rooted to the foot of the table.

George Shelvey, who hadn't featured since being substituted after conceding four first half goals in the 5-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers on 4 March, was restored to the starting line-up, but the former Nottingham Forest man was left breathing a sigh of relief on 11 minutes when he was caught in possession by Melia, who charged down his attempted clearance only for the ball to drift wide before he could finish.

The home side then had their first effort four minutes later when Robbie Benson teed Daryl Horgan up for a shot, which the former Republic of Ireland international dragged to the left and wide.

Shortly after, Robbie Mahon found space to cross from the left but Archie Davies could only prod wide at the back post.

The first shot on target finally arrived on 28 minutes when Shelvey turned Chris Forrester's effort from the edge of the box around the post.

The visitors then should have been in front eight minutes later when Brandon Kavanagh's corner picked out the inrushing Keeley but he couldn't find the target from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Horgan then curled an effort just wide two minutes after the restart before Jamie Gullan screwed a shot just wide moments later.

John Mountney then cut in from the right on 50 minutes to hit the side-netting before turning provider two minutes later when he stood up a cross for Mayowa Animasahun to attack that the 20-year-old defender glanced just wide.

Robbie Benson then tried his luck from range with an effort that Rogers had to punch clear.

After soaking up that period of pressure, Pat's had a big chance to hit the front on 56 minutes when Melia was played through on goal by a brilliant pass from Jamie Lennon, only to see his effort touched over the bar by Shelvey.

Melia would go close again when he fired wide in a crowded area on 64 minutes but there were few chances after that, with Jake Mulraney hitting the outside of the post from an acute angle deep in stoppage time.

© rte.ie

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Dundalk 0 - St Patrick's Athletic 0

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