Latest news with #StPat's
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tom Grivosti out to make St Patrick's Athletic history with clean sheet record and Euro progress on the line
TOM GRIVOSTI is hoping to rewrite the history books tomorrow night after ensuring it was a possibility last week. 2 St Pat's hold a narrow lead over Nomme Kalju in the Conference League 2 Tom Grivosti of St Patrick's Athletic is hoping for another shut out and club history The visitors did not offer much at Richmond Park with Grivosti getting his body in the way to ensure their one genuine chance, which fell to Krijstan Kask, did not result in a goal. If they can shut out the Estonians in the return leg they will not only progress to the third qualifying round of the Conference League, where As a defender Grivosti, is pleased with how He said: 'It's brilliant. Last year in Europe we had good clean sheets but we were known for how many goals we were scoring. read more on football "Now to equal the club record for clean sheets is an added bonus. "If we can do it again on Thursday it will be a great achievement for the whole squad, everyone in the squad played a part in that over the six games.' On his timely intervention in Inchicore, he said: 'We restricted them to a few chances and probably that was the main chance that they had in the game, a second phase off a corner, a little knockdown. 'So yeah, it was a good block, it's what I'm there to do.' Most read in Football The Scouser was a target for champions Shelbourne in the off-season but opted to sign a new contract. Fresh competition arrived in the form of Seán Hoare from Shamrock Rovers and the pair have almost been involved in a job share with club captain Joe Redmond in defence. Mike Maignan shows off his goalkeeping skills at AC Milan training Redmond has started all 25 league games with Hoare and Grivosti each making 12 starts and coming on in a further three. But the ex-Bolton Wanderers and Ross County centre-back — who started all six games in Europe last season as well as the three to date this term — has no regrets about his decision. He said: 'I was obviously out of contract at the end of the season, so there were obviously a few bits, but I love it at Pat's. I kind of knew I wanted to stay here. "When you're wanting to challenge, you're going to need the squad. 'I've played a lot of football this year and I feel like I'm playing well now and hopefully keep that going for the rest of the season. 'When you get your place in the team, you know there's lads chomping at the bit trying to get in, so you just keep trying to play well and keep your place in the team.' Although St Pat's were defensively solid against Kalju, they did struggle to break them down with the only goal arriving in stoppage time from Chris Forrester — despite their opponents being down to nine men for the last 20 minutes. But the 26-year-old is expecting an improved display from them second time around. DIFFERENT TEST He said: 'I'm expecting a different game. 'They probably felt like they didn't play well. We watched them and they do look like a good team. 'We know — we've been in this position before where we've won the home leg and we have to go away — that you're going to be under pressure. 'The teams normally start quite quickly when they're at home and stuff like that, so we're expecting them to have a good go. 'But we've got fast players so that if teams do come on to us, we can play counter-attacking football and stuff like that.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ex-St Pat's star basking in unplanned spell in America but jokes ‘I won't complain about bus back from Finn Harps again'
LEE DESMOND has already done double the time and been to Folsom Prison. But he is not singing the blues nor pining for life back home — much. 3 Lee Desmond plays for Sacramento Republic in California 3 He previously won the FAI Cup with St Patrick's Athletic Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Dubliner Desmond swapped Premier Division St Pat's for USL outfit Sacramento Republic in But now in his fourth season and with the Republic having an option for a fifth, he has taken to life in the California state capital. So much so that the defender, who moved to the States with his girlfriend, acknowledged that he is not sure if or when he will be seen in the League of Desmond — who made 188 appearances for Saints between 2015 and 2021 — told SunSport: 'I knew you'd ask! But I don't know. Read More on St Pat's 'I change my mind quite often. Ideally, I'll finish up back home. All I can tell you is I'm very happy here. 'The plan was never to stay in America for four years, the plan was two and go back home. We are enjoying it. 'But it's tough with the eight-hour time difference and such a long flight and being home two months a year.' Sacramento Republic have taken to him too, as he has been co-captain since his first season at the club and has played a big part of their community work . Most read in Football And that includes regular visits to Folsom Prison — the jail made famous by the Johnny Cash song and the Man in Black's subsequent live show there in 1968. But Desmond admitted: 'I know the story but I wouldn't be his biggest fan. WAG Taylor Ward shares gender of second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at stunning reveal in Dubai 'It started when the club went there to train last year — just to kick the ball around — and now we go once a month. 'The staff go in and play against the prisoners and we can go and watch and talk to the lads. 'So I've gone in four or five times and it's brilliant. 'It's full access, through the cells, where they shower, where they eat and then out into the courtyard where they have organised football . 'We don't go everywhere. I think there are four levels — level four being the most dangerous prisoners and we don't go to their area. 'It all becomes very real, I suppose, when you're there. 'You have to be careful what you say and we're told not to ask why they're in but sometimes the lads open up themselves. 'Some of the stories are really sad and humbling. It's an unbelievable experience and makes you grateful for your life, I suppose.' 'NO REGRETS' Desmond is also thankful for how things have worked out in Sacramento where he helped the club to the US Open Cup final — which they lost to He said: 'I have no regrets about coming here. I'm 30 and in the best physical condition I've ever been and the stats back it up. 'That first year when we reached the cup final, I was struggling with injuries and was being put together and rolled out on the pitch. 'I came over with an Achilles problem that I'd had for a few years, off and on, with St Pat's. When I came over, I didn't have a pre-season because my visa was delayed and my Achilles didn't like going straight into games. 'I needed an operation, which I got a week after that final, and then I had more niggles because of it. 'There were so many imbalances in how I walked and ran because of how I compensated for it. But the last while, it's all been good.' 3 Stephen Mallon of Bohemians in action against Lee Desmond of St Patrick's Athletic during the 2021 FAI Cup final Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile A new manager — former Wolves and He said: 'Neill worked with 'The club here went all-out to get him out of his contract with Raith and he has been brilliant for us. 'Everything about the club is so professional. The offices downtown have 45 staff, which shows how big the club is, we get anything between 6,000 and 11,000 at games. 'San Jose are nearby in the MLS but they have nothing like the fanbase we have here. 'You do get recognised a bit — a little more than home, so not much! It's nice , it's awkward too but most just want a picture. 'Our new owners want to go to the MLS but it's not easy. It's not like you can go in any year and it's expensive. The focus is on a new stadium before going to the MLS. 'I know I probably won't be here when that happens but they're not taking their foot off the pedal that we're in the USL. It's win, win, win. That's it.' "I'm 30 and in the best physical condition I've ever been and the stats back it up." Lee Desmond After an indifferent start as gaffer, Collins put his stamp on the squad, the Republic have hit form and are well placed in the play-off spots. But Desmond knows there is more work to be done and even more travel . He said: 'The one thing I'll never get used to is the travel as we fly everywhere. 'If we're going to the east coast, we go on a Thursday, but it's the day before games if it's a west coast game. 'But there are not many direct flights from Sacramento to most of the venues so it's often two flights. 'It doesn't take much out of you but they can be long trips. 'Fortunately, it's a good squad. It's not just good players but good people, and you need that when you spend so much time with people. 'But, if I go back to the
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 .
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).
