Dundalk drub sloppy St Pat's

Quick-fire goals at the start of either half saw Dundalk get their season up-and-running in style with a crushing victory over St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park.

Close-range finishes from Patrick Hoban and Louie Annesley had Stephen O’Donnell’s side 2-0 up after just 15 minutes and they put the game to bed with two goals in as many minutes within eight minutes of the second half resuming from Rayhaan Tulloch and Daniel Kelly. Connor Malley added a fifth six minutes from the end.

The Lilywhites had made a stuttering start with a 1-1 draw at home to UCD on the opening day followed up by a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Bohemians a week ago but four changes from then breathed new life into the side, as full debutant Tulloch gave a man of the match display.

For Tim Clancy’s side, little went right on the night as they were second-best for long periods and they must now regroup ahead of their trip to face Sligo Rovers on Monday.

The home side got off to a dream start when they hit the front after just five minutes as Hoban stooped to head past David Odumosu from Malley’s inswinging free-kick for what was his 170th career goal.

After Mark Doyle had an effort blocked down by Andy Boyle, the Louth men then doubled their advantage on the quarter hour mark when Annesley turned in from close range from Hayden Muller’s cross after the visitors failed to property clear another Malley free-kick.

It was the Gibraltar international’s first goal at club level, with his only previous goal at senior level coming in his country’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League C defeat at home to Georgia in Victoria Stadium last September.

The Lilywhites then almost made it three on 19 minutes when Greg Sloggett’s cross from the right picked out the inrushing Kelly,