IT WAS A big, and potentially decisive, night in the SSE Airtricity League as Dundalk moved one step closer to retaining the title after Cork slipped-up at Richmond Park.
The Lilywhites’ comfortable win at Longford, coupled with their closest challenger’s defeat, now means Stephen Kenny’s men are one win away from becoming the second club to win the League of Ireland three years in a row.
It’s a remarkable achievement for Dundalk, who are continually setting the bar higher and higher domestically, as demonstrated by their European exploits this season.
But their success is papering over the cracks; tonight’s attendances provides irrefutable evidence of the dire state the league is in.
A grand total of 864 watched the potentially decisive night of an enthralling title race and, granted, there was the small matter of Liverpool-Man United on television but it’s a pretty damning figure.
Just 369 were at Richmond Park to watch Pat’s derail Cork’s title bid with a 3-1 victory. It was their lowest attendance of the season.
That figure is put in context when you think Liam Buckley’s side lifted the league in-front of 2,200 fans just three years ago.
At the City Calling Stadium, many of the 495 punters were Dundalk supporters who had travelled in anticipation of another significant night in their club’s history. They weren’t disappointed.
It’s a special time to be a Dundalk supporter but for the rest of the league these are pretty bleak times.
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