St Patrick’s Athletic vs Dundalk predictions take centre stage in Friday’s League of Ireland Premier Division action. The Saints welcome the Lilywhites to Richmond Park for a Gameweek 25 clash with third vs fourth billing. Kick-off is at 8pm (UK time), with both sides chasing European qualification spots and separated by seven points in the standings.
Stephen Kenny’s men sit third on 42 points from 24 matches. They boast the division’s tightest defence, conceding just 20 goals all season. Dundalk occupy fourth on 35 points under Ciaran Kilduff. The visitors have scored 38 goals but shipped 36, leaving their goal difference at a slender plus two. Friday’s outcome could shape the European picture heading into the final stretch.
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Dundalk predictions and betting tips
| OUR PREDICTION | ODDS & BOOKMAKER | CONFIDENCE | WHY WE’RE BACKING IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Edmondson anytime goalscorer | 6/5 with bet365 (45.5%) | ★★★ | The Englishman has been a revelation since joining from Central Coast Mariners in January. Edmondson has struck nine goals in 24 Premier Division appearances this season. He has fired 69 shots across the campaign, averaging nearly three per match. His Expected Goals figure of 9.38 confirms he is finishing chances at the right rate. Dundalk have conceded 36 goals in 24 league matches. They have shipped at least one in three straight league defeats. Edmondson faces a side low on confidence after losses to Waterford, Shelbourne and Drogheda. The 25-year-old striker will lead the line at Richmond Park, where St Pat’s have scored 39 league goals this term. Odds were not available at the time of writing, but the price should sit around the 6/5 mark given the fixture dynamics. |
| St Patrick’s Athletic half-time/full-time | 6/4 with bet365 (40%) | ★★ | The Saints possess the meanest defence in the Premier Division. Just 20 goals conceded in 24 games is a record no other side can match. They are eight clear of Dundalk on goal difference alone, testament to their defensive solidity under Kenny. Dundalk arrive in Dublin having lost three consecutive league fixtures. Kilduff’s side managed just one goal across those three defeats. They did beat St Mocha’s 3-1 in the FAI Cup last Friday, but a Leinster Senior League opponent offers limited evidence of a genuine revival. St Pat’s should take command early against a side struggling for belief. Their home form and the visitors’ fragile run of results point to the hosts leading at the break and holding firm. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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How both teams head into St Patrick’s Athletic vs Dundalk
St Patrick’s Athletic
Kenny’s Saints have endured an inconsistent spell by their own standards. Three wins, two draws and three defeats from their last eight Premier Division outings represent a return of just 11 points from a possible 24. That wobble has allowed Shamrock Rovers to open an eight-point gap at the summit, though St Pat’s hold a game in hand on the leaders.
The defensive record remains the bedrock. Twenty goals conceded in 24 matches gives the Saints the best rearguard in the division. Sean Hoare, Joe Redmond and Luke Turner have formed a reliable back three under Kenny’s guidance. Goalkeeper Rogers has kept a steady stream of clean sheets behind them.
Going forward, Edmondson leads the scoring charts with nine league goals. Aidan Keena adds firepower from a deeper role, contributing five goals in 750 minutes of action. Keena rescued the FAI Cup tie against Wexford last Friday, netting a 90th-minute winner to spare the Saints’ blushes against the First Division side. Kian Leavy provides the creative spark behind the forwards.
Dundalk
The Lilywhites’ momentum has vanished. After four wins and a draw between mid-May and mid-June, Kilduff’s men have lost three straight Premier Division matches. Defeats to Waterford, Shelbourne and Drogheda dropped them to fourth, seven points adrift of their hosts.
That Drogheda defeat stung most. The Drogs had gone eight games without a win before ending their barren run at Dundalk’s expense. A 2-1 loss to a side battling relegation underlined just how far confidence had dipped.
Last Friday’s 3-1 FAI Cup victory over St Mocha’s stopped the bleeding. Leonardo Gaxha led the line effectively against the Leinster Senior League outfit. Daryl Horgan and Ronan Teahan added guile in support. The real test arrives at Richmond Park, though Dundalk will take heart from their away record. Just one defeat in their last six road trips suggests Kilduff’s squad still travel with resilience.
St Patrick’s Athletic team news
Right-back Ronan Boyce remains absent after missing the last two matches. James Brown should deputise at wing-back alongside centre-halves Sean Hoare, Joe Redmond and Luke Turner in a back three.
Right winger Zack Elbouzedi and striker Max Mata are both sidelined through injury. Aidan Keena and Kian Leavy are expected to support Edmondson in attack. Jamie Lennon and Romal Palmer should anchor the midfield, with Jason McClelland patrolling the left flank.
Dundalk team news
Kilduff is without several key figures. Winger Norman Garbett continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Striker Daniel Mullen is nursing a muscle problem that keeps him out of contention. Goalkeeper Conor Kearns has not featured since sustaining a knee injury in April. Centre-back Conor O’Keeffe has missed 14 consecutive matches and will not return on Friday.
Enda Minogue is set to start between the posts. Robert Cornwall and Bobby Burns should pair at centre-half. Gaxha will lead the attack, supported by Mayowa Animasahun, Teahan and Horgan across the front line. Keith Buckley and Aodh Dervin are expected to sit in central midfield.
Head-to-head
These two clubs have a rich history spanning 73 competitive meetings. St Patrick’s Athletic lead the all-time record with 31 victories to Dundalk’s 28. Fourteen matches have ended in draws.
This season’s league encounters have been decisive home affairs. St Pat’s won 2-0 at Richmond Park in February. Dundalk responded with a 2-0 victory of their own at Oriel Park in April. The Saints edged a 1-0 win in the Leinster Senior Cup in May. In recent head-to-head clashes, St Pat’s have won three and drawn one of the last six meetings across all competitions.
Who comes out on top at Richmond Park?
St Patrick’s Athletic are clear favourites at a best price of 17/25 with Unibet. The draw is available at 16/5 with Betway, while Dundalk can be backed at 17/4 with Bet365.
The value lies in player and combination markets. Edmondson’s scoring record makes the anytime goalscorer market the headline selection. Nine goals from 24 league starts is a strong conversion rate against a Dundalk side that have shipped goals freely in recent weeks.
St Patrick’s Athletic half-time/full-time completes the pair. Kenny’s defence is the tightest in the division. Dundalk have managed just one goal across three successive league defeats. The visitors’ road resilience is the one cautionary note, but their overall form suggests they lack the firepower to trouble the Saints’ backline consistently. Expect the hosts to control this contest from the opening whistle.
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