SSE Airtricity League champions Dundalk host FAI Cup winners St Patrick's Athletic in Oriel Park tomorrow afternoon as Liam Buckley’s Saints aim to defend their President’s Cup title against the Lilywhites (3pm).
Having won the inaugural final last year as league champions, Pat's now enter this match as FAI Cup holders having won the competition last year for the first time in 53 years.
By contrast, Dundalk ended a 19-year wait to win the League of Ireland, edging rivals Cork City in the final game of the season.
Both sides have had competitive fixtures in their pre-season preparations: the Saints coming through a fourth-round Leinster Senior Cup tie against Tolka Rovers 7-0, while Dundalk beat UCD 2-1 in the same competition.
For Saints manager Liam Buckley, while Saturday’s game is a chance to add to the silverware cabinet and retain a trophy, the goal is to also continue his side’s preparation’s for next week’s league opener against Shamrock Rovers.
“We’ve had a good pre-season and I think the lads are now ready to get back into the rhythm of playing games week in, week out.” Buckley said.
In team news, Buckley has a few injury doubts with Kenny Browne (thigh), Ger O’Brien (hamstring), Jack Bayly (groin) and Jamie McGrath (groin) all doubts for the game.
The Saints, however, include new signings Conor O’Malley, Jason McGuinness, Lee Desmond and Ciarán Kilduff in the match-day squad, along with full-back Ian Bermingham, who is line to make his 200th appearance for Pat’s in all competitions should he feature.
Dundalk will be without captain Stephen O’Donnell, who has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with a knee cartilage injury, while Dane Massey remains out with a broken bone in his hand.
John Mountney comes back into the squad having missed last week’s Jim Malone match and Daryl Horgan is likely to feature having returned to action last week and Paddy Barrett is in line to play as he has recovered from an ankle knock.
