National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's St Patrick's or Dundalk that keep their silverware dream alive.
St Patrick's and Dundalk should both be in good shape for this meeting, as there's been enough days for both of them to train and rest since their last matches.
It should be mentioned that Dundalk play their home matches on artifical turf, so they have to adjust for this one as it's played on grass. Does it matter? Recent statistics for Dundalk on grass are 19 victories, 9 draws and 16 defeats from 44 games. In these matches they have a goal statistics scored/conceded: 78-57. You can compare this with overall results below.
St Patrick's form and stats
Patrick's participated in FAI Cup the last season, where they reached the 1st round.St Patrick's are steadily winning Premier Division games and points here at Richmond Park. 11 wins, 0 draws and 3 defeats is the summary from 14 games. This match is a FAI Cup match, and the hometeam has the total statistics 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses in this competition.
Patrick's lost their last game at Derry City after a 0-1 scoreline.
In the preceding match a 1-0 victory visiting Drogheda United.The match schedule is unforgiving for St Patrick's as they have a new game in only three days, a Premier Division match thankfully also at home. Dundalk are visiting.
The Patrick's fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 25 goals in 14 league matches. From these home matches, St Patrick's have conceded only 11 goals.
Dundalk form and stats
Nothing but glory last season for Dundalk, as they won the FAI Cup.The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Dundalk so far with only 16 points returning home. The records show 3-7-6 (win-draw-lose). When we have look at the FAI Cup statistics, we find 3W-1D-0L. This is both home and away. Dundalk has drawn their two previous away games.
Dundalk has to pack their bags again for the second away game in a row. Last time they traveled to Bohemians for a Premier Division game that ended a draw (1-1).
A home win before that, celebrating 1-0 vs Shamrock Rovers.There might be some complaints about the fixture list from the Dundalk manager V. Perth as the team has another away game coming up in only three days, this time against St Patrick's.
Dundalk have a decent goal production going in their away games, although not fantastic. In 16 league away games 19 goals have been scored. 23 goals have been conceded by Dundalk in these games.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: two - three - five (Patrick's wins - draws - Dundalk wins). As for goals, three matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), seven had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  P. Hoban 11 goals |   C. Forrester 8 goals | M. Smith 8 goals |
St Patrick's missing players
Dundalk missing players
| St Patrick's | Dundalk | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 12 | 9 | Won | W | 3 | 11 | ||
| 4 | 0 | Drew | D | 5 | 6 | ||
| 9 | 3 | Lost | L | 5 | 8 | ||
| 44 | 26 | Scored | S | 15 | 39 | ||
| 32 | 10 | Conceded | C | 20 | 36 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 84% | 83% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 69% | 76% | ||
| 56% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 38% | 56% | ||
| 40% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 31% | 36% | ||
| 20% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 15% | 20% | ||
| 60% | 42% | BTTS | BTTS | 62% | 72% | ||
| 24% | 42% | Clean Sheets | C S | 23% | 20% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Failed to Score | F T | 15% | 8% | ||
| 5.4 | 4.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.8 | 5.7 | ||
| 4.2 | 3.9 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.7 | 5.4 | ||
| 1.9 | 1.8 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 1.9 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 2 | ||
| 9.6 | 9.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.7 | 10.9 | ||
| 3.9 | 3.7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 4.4 | ||
| 44% | 56% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 30% | 35% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 48 | 22 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 11 | 26 | 65 |
| 2 | St Patrick's | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 34 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 23 | 13 | 53 |
| 3 | Sligo Rovers | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 46 |
| 4 | Derry City | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 41 | 36 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 5 | 45 |
| 5 | Bohemians | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 49 | 37 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 12 | 42 |
| 6 | Drogheda United | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 42 | 36 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 6 | 40 |
| 7 | Dundalk | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 39 | 43 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 39 |
| 8 | Finn Harps | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 34 | 44 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 25 | -10 | 37 |
| 9 | Waterford United | 30 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 30 | 48 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 24 | -18 | 36 |
| 10 | Longford Town | 30 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 57 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 31 | -37 | 14 |