Latest news with #Pat's
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Aidan Keena returns to haunt Sligo as St Pat's claim nervy win
Sligo Rovers will spend the summer break bottom of the Premier Division table after a tenth minute penalty from their former striker Aidan Keena saw St Patrick's Athletic pick up their first win in three with a nervy victory at the Showgrounds. Stephen Kenny's side should have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one, though Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point but could only fire straight at Pat's net minder Joseph Anang. The Saints haven't met expectations recently with just one win in the last five for one of the pre-season title favourites. Boss Kenny made no less than five changes in a hope to shift fortunes. Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin and former Sligo duo Keena and Simon Power were reinstated to the starting team. While Rovers made two changes from last week's narrow loss to Shels. Jake Doyle-Hayes and Ronan Manning returned to John Russell's midfield, as the home side sought just a second victory on home soil this year. As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on. McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Power, another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area. The hosts struggled to find a way through a packed Pat's centre and had their only chance of the half on twenty minutes. Cian Kavangh, who spent 2024 with Pat's, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang's goal. The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval. Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant's far post close to the hour, while Manning's shot after trojan work from Rovers' teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang's post by Joe Redmond. Pat's were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 minutes but couldn't stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi's cross with an open goal on offer. Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto fluffed an opportunity in the sixth minute of added time after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of Anang. Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 66), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Jad Hakiki 66); Will Fitzgerald, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 78), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru 45). St Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare (Tom Grivosti 44), Anto Breslin; Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon; Simon Power, Kian Leavy (Luke Turner 96), Zach Elbouzedi; Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 86). Attendance: 2,356.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tottenham-bound teen brushes aside ex-Arsenal man to score brilliant goal
There was a touch of North London rivalry in the League of Ireland on Friday night, as Tottenham-bound Ireland Under-21 striker Mason Melia made light work of former Arsenal prospect James Olayinka to score for St Patrick's Athletic against Waterford. Melia had already netted his fifth goal of the season - and his third in his last four games - to drag the Saints back into the game, after they went behind to an early goal by former Pat's striker Tommy Lonergan. Melia levelled in the 28th minute with a clever turn and strike, as he got to Joe Redmond's low shot before Blues defender Darragh Leahy could block the effort. Five minutes later, Melia scored his second of the night, a wonderful solo effort that saw him race from inside his own half to put the hosts in front. Waterford were on the attack when Pat's launched the ball clear. Olayinka mis-controlled on half-way and Melia was straight onto it. Even though the ex-Gunner was the last defender, Melia still had plenty of work to do. 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 the 17-year-old showed great acceleration and pace to burst past his 24-year-old opponent, and race into the area, where he finished low inside the left-hand post. Melia will head to Tottenham next January after he turns 18, with Pat's and Spurs agreeing an initial €1.9m fee - a League of Ireland transfer record. You can see the goal here...
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Boost for St Patrick's Athletic as Stephen Kenny springs selection surprise
St Patrick's Athletic have been boosted by the return of two key midfielders for their crucial Premier Division clash with Waterford. The Saints are bidding to bounce back from last Monday's 4-0 hammering at Tallaght Stadium to Shamrock Rovers - and they are also defending a 15-game unbeaten home record. Kenny, speaking on Thursday ahead of the game, revealed that midfielder Romal Palmer had suffered a setback in his recovery from hamstring surgery. Along with that news and the suspension of Jamie Lennon, Pat's were also set to be without Chris Forrester and Kian Leavy against Waterford, as they recovered from groin and ankle injuries respectively. 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. Kenny had previously ruled Forrester out until after the summer break, while Leavy missed the Rovers game after picking up his injury in last Friday's 3-2 comeback win against Cork City. However, in a surprise development, both players have been included in the 11 to face Waterford. Writing in the match programme ahead of the game, Kenny addressed the defeat to Rovers. 'We know we only have ourselves to blame for our defeat in Tallaght on Monday,' the Pat's boss wrote. 'Overall we played quite well in the first-half, created chances and were denied a certain penalty, but we made it impossible for ourselves with the goals we have given away, which made it difficult to come back from, and of course everyone was hugely disappointed.' St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Hoare, Redmond, Breslin; Forrester, Baggley; Elbouzedi, Leavy, Mulraney; Melia. Waterford: McMullan; Burke, McDonald, Leahy; Horton, Olayinka, Glenfield, Noonan, White; Lonergan, Amond. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stephen Kenny outlines why St Pat's are NOT likely to win the league
Stephen Kenny has poured cold water on the idea that St Patrick's Athletic were ever favourites for this season's Premier Division title. The Saints were tipped by plenty of pundits in pre-season to finish ahead of the rest. But Kenny reckons there is no logic behind such claims, even if Pat's can climb as high as second in the table with a win on Friday evening against Waterford. 'We weren't shouting out that we were going to be league champions. Other people were making that point,' Kenny said. 'On what basis did we think we'd arrive to be the league champions based on me coming three quarters of the way through the season or over halfway through the season, getting into Europe or whatever? 'And then all of a sudden we're just going to flick a switch and win the league? Life isn't like that. 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. 'You must work hard for everything over a sustained period of time and you know, you need certainty, teams need time to develop and evolve.' The Richmond Park boss has a huge headache ahead of the game, with midfielders Jamie Lennon (suspended) and Kian Leavy (ankle) joining longer-term absentees Romal Palmer and Chris Forrester on the sidelines. Despite his treatment table woes, he sides with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola when it comes to opinions on squad depth. Guardiola has threatened to quit his job if his huge squad isn't cut down, as leaving so many players out on matchdays is 'impossible for my soul.' Kenny said: 'We've formulated a squad, we don't like squads that are too big. 'I seen Pep Guardiola, he doesn't want to be at Man City if they've 25 players because he doesn't want to put four or five in the squad every week. 'You know, I agree with that, I don't think you need to have that big a squad. 'You know we have a very good squad, a very talented group, a lot of attacking potential. 'Like everything else, we've had key players missing for part of the season but so have other teams also. 'And so we have to adjust and try and put in a performance that can get us three points on Friday.'
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: Shamrock Rovers meet injury-hit Saints in Tallaght
The four sides competing in European competitions are in action tonight as matches from later in the domestic campaign are brought forward. Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and Drogheda United face a more hectic period now, rather than later summer, with the idea of limited league fixture around pivotal times in qualfying in Europe in July. The scenario will be repeated again on 16 June, again to reduce their fixture list the month after. Shamrock Rovers will be happy to have the games coming thick and fast due to excellent form as they sit two points clear at the top against of the visit of Pat's to Tallaght. The Saints are playing in fits and starts, falling 2-1 behind to Cork City on Friday before winning the game with seconds to spare. Injuries are undoubtedly a factor, and the enormity of the result was not lost on all in Richmond Park amid racous scenes. Kenny will be without several players tonight. Kian Leavy and Joe Redmond picked up injuries against Cork and will have to have late fitness tests while Barry Bagley will be suspended. Chris Forester and Romal Palmer are our injured until mid-summer. Kenny will have to be creative to see who joins Jamie Lennon in midfield. Jay McClelland and Brandon Kavanagh are likely to figure somewhere across the middle of the park. The Pat's boss has brushed away any idea of being defensive, given they are down on numbers. "It's not even halfway through the season, I don't think you can think in those terms and we never really set up like that," Kenny said. "It's not really our style to sit in and defend. We'll have to come up with a strategy to play because Shamrock Rovers over are in great form." The Hoops were 3-1 winners in Waterford and have lost just once in their last 13 matches. Stephen Bradley believes some of the best the League of Ireland has to offer will be on show. "It should be a good game," Bradley predicted. "Two good teams, Pat's have real quality, so it should be a really good game. Our pitch in Tallaght is always incredible, the weather is obviously still nice, so it has the makings to be a really good game. "We've one or two knocks from Friday night, as always, that's quite normal. But other than Seán Kavanagh, everyone else is fit and available which is good. The squad is in a good place." A struggling Shels side will host FAI Cup holders Drogs in Tolka Park having sunk to sixth in the table. Now seven points off the leaders, the match takes added importance for the champions. Damien Duff will return to the sideline after serving a suspension. But Mark Coyle and Ali Coote will be banned after red cards in Friday's loss to Bohemians. Drogheda United are still sore from a late concession to Derry City in the 1-1 draw at Sullivan and Lambe Park. They sit three points against Shels going into this fixture. The teams played out a 2-2 draw last month and have had a host of memorable battles since Duff took over at Tolka Park.
