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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kenny raves about St Pat's ace and lauds 'incredible football intelligence'
Stephen Kenny has hailed Jay McClelland for stepping out from the shadows and into the European spotlight for St Pat's. McClelland was the Saints man-of-the-match in Thursday's tense 1-0 Conference League win over nine-man Kalju, a result that puts St Pat's in control going to Estonia. And if they hold their rivals at bay on Thursday, the Inchicore men will face the loser of the Europa League tie between Besiktas and Shakhtar Donetsk. As it stands, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas are the most likely opponents as they lost Thursday's first-leg 4-2 at home. McClelland, 28, has been at St Pat's since 2020 but hasn't always been a starter and when he does play, he could be deployed in any number of positions. Lately, the attacking midfielder has been playing at left-back but has also popped up on the left wing and in the middle of the park. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . But Kenny has hailed McClelland's professionalism for refusing to cave when opportunities were hard to come by, after becoming a key man in Europe this year. Ex-Ireland boss Kenny said: 'No, he hasn't (always been a starter), and hasn't always been in the squad - he's been in the stand in the past. He's had to bide his time but he's just having a run of form and his innate football intelligence is incredible. St Pat's Jay McClelland and Daniil Tarassenkov of Kalju (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) 'He can see great pictures and has the technical ability to execute really intelligent passes and crosses. He's a very intelligent player. The physicality maybe wasn't his strongest point but he has adapted that to his game to help him play there. 'He's worked on aspects of his game which weren't his strongest points where you might get exposed as a left-back, in your one-on-one defending and your heading. 'He's got much better at those facets of the game and his distribution is very inventive. It's a competitive area for us. Anto Breslin has never let us down, he's always been a terrific full-back at the club. 'At the start of the season we probably wouldn't have factored Jason playing at left-back but when people take their opportunity you have to reward that.' McClelland only started five league games last season - he came on another 16 times - but already has 12 Premier Division starts this year from his 21 league appearances. At no stage since Kenny took charge 14 months ago has the Dubliner ever knocked on the manager's door demanding to leave. St. Patrick's Athletic's Jay McClelland (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy) Kenny said: 'He was out of contract last year but I made it clear to him that I wanted him to stay. His versatility is important. Even when he's not in the team, he's super fit and that's a challenge because players find it hard to stay at the level when they're not in the team- they get demoralised.' Ryan McLaughlin, the former Liverpool and Northern Ireland player, is another who has stepped up to snatch a starting role. He was behind Axel Sjoberg as Kenny's right-back option, but has now wrestled the shirt off the Swede. Kenny continued: 'Ryan and Jason didn't start any of the European games last year and they're in the positions now. "You see the passing, Ryan to Jason and then Jason back to Ryan. You don't see that much in matches, those touchline to touchline passes from full-backs. But Ryan has that in his locker and the in-joke in the group is that he showed Trent Alexander-Arnold how to do it! Meanwhile, Kenny won't rule out signing a midfielder before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline for contracted players, as Romal Palmer remains on the long-term list. But Chris Forrester is nearing a return to the starting line-up after stepping up his comeback from injury of late, and scoring the all-important late winner against Kalju. Kenny said of Forrester: 'He's been a great player, a regular in nearly all of my games since I took over but he was out for eight weeks. 'That's two months and you can lose a lot. He needs to work hard. He's had a few weeks' training and is coming on so he definitely comes into our thoughts.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Chris Forrester with late winner as St Pat's Athletic edge nine-man Nõmme Kalju in Conference League
St Patrick's Athletic left it late to break down nine-man Nomme Kalju in their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round first leg at Richmond Park. Chris Forrester netted shortly after his introduction on 90 minutes as Conor Carty's shot was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, and Forrester danced around him before finishing coolly. It looked set to be a night of frustration for the Saints as they were repelled despite Kalju losing Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko to red cards within five second half minutes. The dam eventually in the final minute of normal time as the deeply cynical Estonians' defensive gameplan was finally undone. The home support were in fine voice long before kick off - though they had to in order to be heard above a PA soundtrack that could be heard from space - and maintained that despite their frustrations. And their patience - and that of goalkeeper Joe Anang - who also got to relax and watch a game of football - was rewarded when the erratic Pavlov failed to hold onto Carty's effort. The Russian goalkeeper had two hairy moments early on, first tipping a Jay McClelland cross over and almost fumbling Simon Power's centre into his own net. That was to be the majority of the first-half entertainment bar Pavlov tipping away a shot by sub Jake Mulraney, on after Zack Elbouzedi was cynically hacked down and had to depart with an arm injury. Mulraney again went close as Pavlov spilled a corner and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box, but it fell onto the roof of the net. The tide appeared to turn as Siht made a mess of a Saints breakaway and received a second yellow card for hacking down Barry Baggley. Power hit the side netting from 20 yards before Kalju's woes were compounded when Mashchenko cynically chopped down Mulraney as he ran in on goal. The visitors changed their initial plan of 11 men behind the ball to nine men behind the ball - or on the ground - but the Athletic's diligence eventually paid off as Forrester capitalised. They had further chances in injury time as subs Aidan Keena and Mulraney both drove narrowly wide but they will travel to Tallinn next Thursday with the most slender of leads. St. Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Tom Grivosti, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin (Aidan Keena 71), Joseph Redmond; Barry Baggley, Zack Elbouzedi (Jake Mulraney 24), Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh 78), Jamie Lennon (Christopher Forrester 78), Simon Power; Mason Melia (Conor Carty 78). Nomme Kalju : Maksim Pavlov; Danyil Mashchenko, Maksim Podholjuzin (Uku Kõrre 45), Modou Tambedou, Daniil Tarassenkov; Kristjan Kask, Oleksandr Musolitin (Aleksandr Nikolajev 46), Ivans Patrikejevs (Sander Alex Liit 78), Rommi Siht; Nikita Ivanov (Guilherme Henriques da Silva Carvalho 62), Mattias Männilaan.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Forrester dramatic late winner gives St Pat's the advantage going into second leg in Estonia
Europa Conference League, second qualifying round, first leg: St Patrick's Athletic 1 (Forrester 90') Kalju 0 As so often in the past, Chris Forrester proved St Patrick's Athletic's talisman once again with a dramatic late winner just as it seemed frustration would be the order of the night by the Camac. With the Nomme Kalju goal under siege as they defended heroically with nine men for over 20 minutes, St Patrick's finally gave themselves something to bring to Estonia next week with a 90th minute goal. A triple 79th minute substitution by manager Stephen Kenny would eventually bring St Patrick's their due reward with all three players contributing. Brandon Kavanagh fed Conor Carty down the inside left channel. And though the striker's drive was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, Forrester, St Pat's record European appearance holder, pounced on the loose ball to show clever feet and score from close in. While St Patrick's dominated on the night, and well before Kalju's two dismissals, it remains all to play for in Tallinn in next Thursday's second leg. Kenny made one change from last week's win against Lithuanian side Hegelmann with Zach Elbouzedi replacing Jake Mulraney on the right flank as St Pat's started on the front foot. Pavlov looked far from sure of himself early on, tipping over crosses from Jay McClelland and Barry Baggley while also fortunate that nothing came of having an attempted clearance charged down by Mason Melia. Though St Pat's continued to dominate the ball, it was the 28th minute before they seriously threatened, left-back Modou Tambedou doing well to nick the ball off the toe of Simon Power from Baggley's through ball. If suspect in the air, Pavlov did show pretty competent shot stopping ability with saves from McClelland and substitute Jake Mulraney as St Pat's frustration grew with no tangible reward forthcoming as they trooped off at half-time. Home agitation continued into the second half, Melia just not able to get enough purchase on a downward header from Mulraney's cross to trouble Pavlov. Kalju then mustered their first spell of pressure on the home goal with Tom Grivosti defending well to block a shot from Mattias Mannilaan amid three successive corners for the visitors. Back at the other end, plaintive shouts for a handball were not entertained in a scramble that followed a McClelland header from Baggley's corner. Kalju, having shipped four bookings already, were reduced to 10 men on 64 minutes when Rommi Siht was dismissed for a foul on Kian Leavy, his second yellow card. It got worse numerically for the Estonians four minutes later as Danyl Mashchenko was also sent off for a second yellow card offence for hauling down Mulraney. Minutes later Melia looked set to break the deadlock only to slice his volley wide after Grivosti picked him out in space right in front of goal. With Kalju pinned back in their final third, substitute Aidan Keena worked Pavlov at his near post before Kalju's heroic defending was undone with Forrester's big goal. Pavlov would then prevent further damage with the save of the night in the 93rd minute when turning Kavanagh's drive round a post. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; McLaughlin (Keena, 70), Redmond, Grivosti, McClelland; Lennon (Forrester, 79), Baggley; Elbouzedi (Mulraney, 24), Leavy (Kavanagh, 79), Power; Melia (Carty, 79). Nõmme Kalju: Pavlov; Tarassenkov, Mashchenko, Podholjuzin (Korre, 45+6), Tambedou; Patrikejevs (Liit, 72), Musolitin (Nikolajiev, h-t), Kask, Siht; Mannilaan, Ivanov (Guilherme, 62). Referee: Ladislav Szikszay (Czechia).
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Chris Forrester breaks nine-man Nomme Kalju's resolve as St Patrick's Athletic clinch late win in Conference League
CHRIS FORRESTER caught Nomme Kalju with their pants down after the Estonians were told to pull up their socks. Substitute Forrester scored in the dying seconds to finally break the resistance of a team which played with just NINE men for the last 20 minutes. 2 St Patrick's Athletic beat Nomme Kalju in the Conference League Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Chris Forrester scored the winner Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile It sparked relief at Richmond Park although there will still be frustration that they did not win by a bigger margin given how the numbers were in their favour - and Brandon Kavanagh, Jake Mulraney and Simon Power all went close after the goal. Kalju's poor discipline was underlined when Oleksandr Musolitin was booked by the referee after he had to be told for a second time that his socks were too low. He did not reappear after the restart with both Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko sent off after the break. But the players who stayed on did a heroic job of trying to keep the hosts at bay and almost pulled it off with the tie still very much alive ahead of the return leg next Thursday. Read More on League of Ireland Kallju keeper Maksim Pavlov looked vulnerable early on and, in quick succession , he scooped speculative efforts from Jason McClelland and Barry Baggley over the bar at the expense of a corner but St Pat's were unable to profit from either set-piece. Nor could anyone punish Pavlov when he dropped a cross from McClelland. For all their possession, St Pat's were not carving Kalju open which led to a growing frustration in the stands. And, when someone finally decided to try to make something happen, it did not end well. Most read in Football Zach Elbouzedi dribbled at speed from his own half and was cynically pulled down by Mashchenko although there was enough cover nearby for it not to warrant more than a yellow card. But it ended Elbouzedi's evening and will likely be sidelined for some time as it looked as though he may have broken his wrist when he fell with Mulraney sent on in his place. Watch hilarious moment Stephen Kenny bumped into Alan Reynolds on the street before Dublin derby Mulraney had his moments with one effort comfortably dealt with by Pavlov whilst Melia had a similar run to Elbouzedi but opted to shoot when he had options either side with Maksim Podholjuzin able to block his effort. There was a second encounter between the pair just before the break when the centre-half fouled him. Referee Ladislav Szikszay signalled he was playing advantage but the call did St Pat's no favours as the way ball spun up to Kian Leavy he was unable to control it. A booking for the Kalju captain would have been deserved but did not materialise. He was unable to continue, however, having hurt himself in making the challenge . St Pat's needed to up the tempo after the break and they did. Kalju carried more of a threat than they had done but were undermined by their rash challenges which saw two players sent off. Soon after the restart, Melia headed Mulraney's cross straight into Pavlov's arms. But, at the other end, it needed a block from Tom Grivosti to deny Krijstan Kask after good work by Nikita Ivanov and Daniel Tarassenkov. McClelland then twice went close, first with a shot with the outside of his foot and then with a header from a corner which St Pat's claimed, to no avail, was blocked by a hand. Kalju countered with Tarassenkov narrowly failing to connect with a volley but, after that, things started to unravel for the visitors. Smit was booked twice in nine minutes for an aerial challenge on Power when he led with his arm and for tripping Baggley. Five minutes later, they were down to nine men when Mashchenko was cautioned for tripping Mulraney in full flow. Pat's did create chances with a Leavy off target with a header and a low shot while Melia narrowly failed to connect with a Power cross with a series of other shots blocked by the tiring Kalju players. Eventually, though, the breakthrough came when Forrester kept his composure after Pavlov had beaten away Conor Carty's effort. SUN STAR MAN: Jason McClelland (St Pat's) ST PAT'S : Anang 7; McLaughlin 7 (Keena 71, 6), Grivosti 7, Redmond 7, McClelland 7; Baggley 7, Lennon 7 (Forrester 79, 6); Elbouzedi 6 (Mulraney 24, 6), Leavy 6 (Kavanagh 79, 5), Power 7; Melia 6(Carty 79, 5). NOMME KALJU : Pavlov 5; Tarassenkov 6, Maschenko 5, Podholjuzin 5 (Korre 45, 7), Tambedou 7, Siht 5; Musolitin 5 (Nikolajev 46, 6), Kask 7; Patrikejevs 6 (Liit 72, 5), Ivanov 6 (Smith 62, 6); Mannilaan 7. REFEREE : L Szikszay (Czechia) 5
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Pat's leave it late to beat nine-man Kalju in Inchicore
Kalju lost the plot at Richmond Park and yet for 90 long minutes it looked like St Pat's wouldn't get their act together to then their late trio of subs joined forces to deliver a fairytale ending at the death with Chris Forrester pouncing to put Saints in the driving seat heading for Estonia next were physical and aggressive throughout and had two players sent off - both on second yellows - in a crazy four minute spell in the despite peppering their box for the remaining 26 minutes, Stephen Kenny's men were struggling to apply the killer finish for the goal they the net hasn't been a problem in their most recent outings, but had been a major cause for concern before it looked like those issues were resurfacing the build-up, Kenny said a win by any means necessary would suffice. The performance didn't need to be a thing of beauty, once St Pat's got the when Kalju pair Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko walked in the 64th and 68th minutes, St Pat's knew they had no more excuses for making hard work of it needed the 79th minute introduction of Brandon Kavanagh, Conor Carty and Forrester to settle slipped a ball in behind nine-man Kalju's badly stretched defence for Carty and he drew a save from Maksim Pavlow, only for Forrester tucked home the he showed fancy footwork in doing so Park has been a happy hunting ground for the Saints in European competition, winning 13 of their last 23 games here, and they started like the meant men dominated the ball throughout the first half and had their Estonian opponents on the back foot until yet the visitors were more than happy with how the game was panning out at that all their possession, Saints struggled to work Russian goalkeeper Pavlov enough. And that was frustrating considering how shaky he looked under high Pavlov did redeem himself somewhat when getting his body behind a Jay McClelland drive and then thwarting Jake Mulraney at full stretch when the St Pat's winger cut in from the right and unleashed a thumping wasn't long on the pitch at that point, having replaced Zack Elbouzedi midway through the half when the latter suffered a nasty wrist injury after landing awkwardly under a had picked the ball up on his own half and went on a brilliant run at pace down the middle of the a knife through butter, he sliced through poor challenges and held opponents at bay until Mashchenko brought him Ukrainian - later sent off - was booked for the foul just outside the area and St Pat's players quickly signalled to the bench that Elbouzedi was in a bad walked off holding his wrist, with pain etched across his Pat's supporters had been enjoying the early entertainment, but the longer Kalju were holding on, the more frustrated those fans Power's shot from the edge of the area lacked, well, power, and fell kindly at Pavlov's then clipped a ball into Power in the box but Modou Tambedou pinched it off his toes before the winger could had a bit more about them in the second-half, and grew in confidence after watching St Pat's make such hard work of Mattias Mannilaan may well have opened the scoring were it not for an important Tom Grivosti even though Saints were huffing and puffing - 'we're too f*****g nice' was one of the shouts from the crowd - their willingness to keep pushing never once the Kalju pair saw red, St Pat's had clarity of immediately introduced striker Aidan Kenna for fullback Ryan McLaughlin in the hope of driving home that advantage, with the sub joining Mason Melia in Melia fluffed the host's best chance of the game, volleying a deep Grivosti cross wide from close range before Keena smashed a shot from six yards at kept going abegging thereafter, but Saints stalwart Forrester was the difference maker when it mattered in the final throes. As he came into the game, a supporter in the main stand roared at Forrester 'you can change this game' - and he did just that with a precious lead goal in the tie. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang 6; McLaughlin 6 (Keena 70, 6), Redmond 7, Grivosti 7, McClelland 7; Lennon 7 (Forrester 79, 7), Baggley 7; Elbouzedi 6 (Mulraney 24, 6), Leavy 6 (Kavanagh 79, 6), Power 6; Melia 6 (Carty 79, 6). Nõmme Kalju: Pavlov 6; Tarassenkov 6, Mashchenko 6, Podholjuzin 6 (Korre 45, 6), Tambedou 6; Patrikejevs 5 (Liit 72 5), Musolitin 5 (Nikolajev 45, 6_, Kask 6, Siht 6; Mannilaan 6, Ivanov 5 (Guilherme 62, 6). Referee: Ladislav Szikszay (Czechia).
