Latest news with #StephenKenny
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stephen Kenny's first-leg ambitions outlined as St Pat's bid for glamour tie
Stephen Kenny wants his St Patrick's Athletic side to repeat their Europa Conference League first round heroics - by taking a lead with them to the Baltics. Last time out, they flew to Lithuania with a one-goal advantage against FC Hegelmann, where they scored twice to wrap up a 3-0 aggregate win. Next up on Thursday night is the visit to Richmond Park of Estonians Nomme Kalju - and Kenny is eager for his side to be in the ascendancy when they head to Tallinn next week. The Pat's boss is missing Sean Hoare and Romal Palmer for Thursday's game, but otherwise has a strong squad for the game. Describing Kalju as a step up from their first round opponents, he said: 'They will be tough opposition. We'd like to take a lead ideally to Estonia, that has to be the objective.' Kenny got the lowdown on their second round opponents from former Pat's star Ian Bermingham, whose club European appearance record was beaten last week by Chris Forrester. Bermingham watched Kalju in action against Albanian side Partizani - and he brought home a detailed report of the Estonian side. 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 . 'Ian was in Tirana and he saw that game. It was a big win for Nomme Kalju in Tirana because Partizani are ranked higher than us I believe,' said Kenny. 'So it was a big win in the second half of extra-time and they were value for it over the two legs, I thought. We'll dust ourselves down for a new challenge and get ready. '(They play a) 3-4-2-1 model, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers are playing 3-4-2-1. The striker is Brazilian and they have a Ghanaian forward as well. 'They have a lot of energy, they're a very fit team and some good attacking players. They finished second in that league last year, they split the Tallinns. We'll get a real tough game.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Patrick's Athletic boss in FAI Cup draw quip as tough tie awaits the Saints
Stephen Kenny reckons someone was double-jobbing this week - with his St Patrick's Athletic side landing two tough draws within 24 hours of each other. First up was Monday's Europa Conference League third round draw. The reward for progress over Estonian side Nomme Kalju will be a tie against one of two European group stage regulars. Turkish giants Besiktas are managed by former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009. Then on Tuesday, in the draw for the third round of the FAI Cup, Pat's were handed a home tie against League of Ireland champions Shelbourne. The St Pat's boss quipped: 'I think the same person was doing the two draws! Two tough draws, Shelbourne is a tough game, Pat's v Shels is a great game. As for the prospect of facing either Besiktas or Shakhtar, it wasn't the draw Kenny was after. He said: 'I always want a draw that gives us the best chance of progressing. People want a big one, but I'm always wanting the draw that gives us the best chance of got to the play-off round last season. 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 . 'Obviously, there is an incentive for both teams when they see the draw. They are big names, Besiktas or Shaktar. There are institutions in their own countries. They have a great pedigree. 'For both teams it's a huge incentive, but from our point of view we want to… European games can be the pinnacle of players' careers. 'We played in Lithuania last week and we go to Estonia next week. You want to continue on that journey and go again. You don't want to stop.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Stephen Kenny wants 'any sort of win' to fire St Pat's European hopes
Stephen Kenny has say "any sort of win" will do for St Patrick's Athletic against Nomme JK Kalju on Thursday night in the first leg of their Conference League second-round qualifier at Richmond Park (7.45pm kick-off). Buoyed by their impressive 2-0 win against Hegelmann in Lithuania last week, which was followed by an 8-0 FAI Cup hammering of UCC, the Saints are looking to maintain momentum. Having endured a barren spell in front of goal, things might just be starting to click but Kenny warned they're facing a stiff challenge against Kalju, who are currently fourth in the Estonian top flight. "We've done a fair degree of homework on them," Kenny told RTÉ Sport. "They are a fit and energetic team and finished second in their league last year, splitting the two Tallinn teams, Levadia and Flora. They work on 3-4-2-1 model, very energetic, very fit and have a good Brazilian attacking player. "We'll have to be at our best to put in a good performance. They are full-time professionals so this will be a tough game for us, with the winners getting either Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk (in the next round). It's the toughest draw we could have got but it's still a big incentive to get through." "You're then searching for answers but thankfully we've managed to get back scoring goals." Kenny has been adamant that his team's performance levels have been good despite patchy league form, pointing to a costly profligacy in front of goal which has cost them points. Now the ex-Republic of Ireland boss says he's seeing evidence they've turned a corner. "We've had five clean sheets so the players are defending well and our general play has been terrific over the last couple of weeks," he added. "Our finishing has let us down at times so it was good to get those three goals (over the two legs) in Europe and we got eight at the weekend against the non-league team (UCC). Last season we finished top scorers in the league but this season we hit a barren period where we just couldn't finish despite dominating games. "You're then searching for answers but thankfully we've managed to get back scoring goals and we've been good at the other end in not conceding." Kenny also had a good luck message for Evan Ferguson, who has sealed an eye-catching loan move to Roma. "We picked Evan (for Ireland) before he made his debut for Brighton and then he scored on his first start against Latvia, a friendly, and then he played his first competitive game against France in the Aviva which was an epic game," he said. "Going to Roma is a great opportunity so why wouldn't he take an opportunity like that, to go to Italy? I sincerely wish him well." Meanwhile Saints midfielder Jamie Lennon is fit and raring to go against Nomme JK Kalju. Lennon has fully shaken off an ankle knock he's been nursing over the last week as he targets another forward step in Europe. "We know the next task is going to be much more difficult, but the performance level (against Hegelmann) was really good," the 27-year-old said. "We struggled for goals ever since the break to be fair, since we've come back we've struggled for goals. We haven't struggled for chances though, which I suppose is a positive thing. We're getting in the right areas, we just haven't been clinical enough. "I think the goal here against Hegelmann (in the 1-0 first-leg victory) was a big moment for us, I think it gave the attacking players confidence going over there that they could get a couple more and they did. "Now that we're actually taking some of our chances I think the confidence will just continue to build." While Ferguson looks to reignite his club career in Italy, another young Irish striker will be aiming to further embellish his reputation this week. Mason Melia will join Tottenham in January, but could give St Pat's the perfect parting gift if he continues to shine in Europe as they aim to reach the Conference League league stage. "He's obviously a hugely talented player, a great person as well," Lennon said of the 17-year-old. "He'll have a really good career but he's a big part of what we're trying to do this season and especially in Europe. He has the potential to be an elite player, we're happy to have him for the moment. "His strength and agility, the way he can move as quick with the ball as without the ball is really good. It's hard to believe that he's still only a kid."
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne drawn to face each other in FAI Cup
A huge Dublin derby between St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne awaits in next month's FAI Cup, as the ties for the third round were confirmed this afternoon. Stephen Kenny's Saints, who have won two of the last four FAI cups, will host Joey O'Brien's Reds who last reached the final in 2022. With both Dublin sides currently involved in European qualification campaigns, the clubs may have huge play-off clashes days before the third round tie takes place, although St Pat's face a tough task to get there.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
St Patrick's Athletic eye Conference League glamour tie with Champions League regulars if they can overcome Nomme Kalju
ST PAT'S will have a glamour tie against either Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk if they further progress in the Conference League. Advertisement 2 St Patrick's Athletic overcame FC Hegelmann in the UEFA Conference League First Qualifying Round 2 Stephen Kenny's side now face Nomme Kalju of Estonia - and a big money tie awaits if they can win They have already disposed of Besiktas are managed by former If the Saints got the toughest potential draw, then Dublin rivals Shelbourne and In the same competition, Rovers would face Ballkani of Kosovo or Malta's Floriana if they can overcome St Joseph's of Gibraltar. Advertisement read more on football Three years ago, Stephen Bradley's side comfortably dealt with another Maltese side, Hibernians, winning 3-0 on aggregate. If Shels progress in the Champions League, they would pit their wits against FCSB of Romania or Macedonia's KF Shkëndija. But if they are knocked out by Qarabag, they will drop down to the Europa League where they would face either HNK Rijeka of Croatia or Ludogorets. The Bulgarian side beat Rovers 4-2 on aggregate in the Champions League in 2022. Advertisement Most read in Football Roma fans mob and serenade Ireland star Evan Ferguson at airport ahead of loan move from Brighton
