The Saint (Vol. 32 No. 4)

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Irish Programme Club

Programme of the Year

2019 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 04 •

St Patrick’s Athletic Shamrock Rovers Sunday 16 August • Kick Off: 5.00pm • Richmond Park, Inchicore, Dublin 8.

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St Patrick’s Athletic Manager:

Alan Mathews

Manager:

Head Coach: Stephen O’Donnell GK o

26 Brendan Clarke

Fáilte Tá áthas orainn fáilte a chur roimh mbainistíocht, imreoirí agus lucht tacaíochta Chlub Pheile Ruagairí Na Seamreoige go Phairc Richmond anocht.

Welcome We are pleased to welcome the management, players and supporters of Shamrock Rovers Football Club to Richmond Park tonight.

Shamrock Rovers Stephen Bradley

Asst Manager: Glenn Cronin 1 Alan Mannus

GK o

2 Rory Feely

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2 Rhys Marshall

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3 Ian Bermingham (C)

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3 Danny Lafferty

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4 Dan Ward

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4 Roberto Lopes

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5 Lee Desmond

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5 Lee Grace

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6 Jamie Lennon

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6 Greg Bolger

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7 Robbie Benson

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7 Dylan Watts

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8 Darragh Markey

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8 Ronan Finn

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9 Martin Rennie

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9 Aaron Greene

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12 Georgie Kelly

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10 Aaron McEneff

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14 Luke McNally

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11 Sean Kavanagh

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15 Billy King

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14 Alex Dunne

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16 Jay McClelland

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15 Liam Scales

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17 Simon Madden

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16 Gary O’Neill

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19 Chris Forrester

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18 Sean Callan

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20 Shane Griffin

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19 Dean Williams

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22 James Doona

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20 Rory Gaffney

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23 Jordan Gibson

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21 Graham Burke

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24 David Titov

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23 Neil Farrugia

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25 Conor Kearns

GK o

25 Leon Pohls

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27 Cian Hughes

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26 Thomas Oluwa

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28 Glory Nzingo

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27 Brandon Kavanagh

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30 Paul Cleary

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28 Joey O’Brien

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32 Cian Kelly

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29 Jack Byrne

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34 Ben McCormack

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30 Kian Clarke

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35 Darragh Burns

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31 Aaron Bolger

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37 Daniel Dobbin

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38 Kian Corbally

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/stpatsfc

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stpatsfc /stpatsfc

Match Officials

/stpatsfctv

Referee Paul McLaughlin

info@stpatsfc.com stpatsfc.com

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Half-Time

Assistant 1 Allen Lynch Full-Time

Assistant 2 Emmet Dynan

4th Official Rob Hennessy

MOTM

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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Editorial Ruairi Kavanagh @stpatsprogramme

Good evening...

Welcome to our second digital edition for the

editions will always be available and they are

surreal season of 2020. Thanks for all the kind

free, we work as hard on them as we do on all

messages and support for the hard work that

our other issues. Also, while we believe in the

went into compiling the last edition, which

future of print and digital editions, clubs have

was very well received.

already gone the way of digital only, so this provides us with a good opportunity to test

We have received queries about physical copies, but we do not believe that they are

the waters in that regard and see what the engagement metrics are.

necessary at this very uncertain time when there are no fans in stadiums and when

As for the Saints, I think it is fair to say that

matches can, as we have seen, be called off at

the performance up in Donegal was very poor

short notice. It makes no practical, environ-

indeed. We have far too much quality in our

mental or economic sense to be printing

ranks to produce such a performance, and I

programmes right now, in my opinion. There

hope there will be a massive improvement

may be some collectors that worry about the

tonight. We will need it, facing a side that has

disruption to their sequence of printed

won every game so far.

programmes, but in the context of the scale of disruption that this pandemic can bring, a free, I would venture that it is a disruption

All the best and stay safe,

that is not too hard to bear. Our virtual

Ruairi

Contents 7

The Dugout

18

Red & White Wonderland

11

Dodge’s Data

24

Community

14

Opposition Watch

36

A View from Afar

Programme Production Editor: Design:

Ruairi Kavanagh Joe O’Rourke

Printing: Photography:

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

Westside Press Sportsfile & Inpho 3

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Light Up Your Nights

SSE Airtricity League

#LightUpYourNights

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President’s Welcome Tom O’Mahony @tomsaintpats

You're very welcome to join us, wherever you may be, for the visit of the runaway league leaders to Richmond Park. A difficult challenge at any time, it's all the more daunting given our recent poor run of form.

I've never been a huge fan of Bob Geldof but I certainly have come to appreciate his dislike for Mondays after our performances against Derry City and Finn Harps on the last two. In each case, we were quite decent on the preceding Friday but seemed to lack energy and imagination three days later.

It suggests to me that the demands of games in quick succession in the immediate aftermath of the lockdown are bearing more heavily on us than on other teams, for whatever reason. However, we are now back to one game a week, and even have the prospect of a week off in a fortnight's time as a result of our cup exit. If that seems like stretching to find a silver lining, it's certainly true that our management team will now have more time to work on bedding in our new players and hopefully equipping us well for the run-in.

The league table suggests that as many as eight teams will consider themselves as having a realistic chance of one of the four European places. We're well in that mix but we have to acknowledge that we haven't as yet delivered fully on the potential in the squad. It would certainly be a big step in the right direction, and a major boost to confidence, if we can put one over on the league leaders today.

I hope you enjoy the game!

Tom O'Mahony President St Patrick's Athletic FC

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB 125 Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, Ireland Tel: +353 1 454 6332 Fax: +353 1 454 6211 For media enquiries, please email press@stpatsfc.com Opening Hours: 9.30am-5pm (Mon-Fri).

See our facebook page for additional opening hours on match days.

HONOURS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1951/52, 1954/55, 1955/56, 1989/90, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2001/02, 2013 FAI CUP 1958/59, 1960/61, 2014 LEAGUE CUP 2000/01, 2003, 2015, 2016 PRESIDENT'S CUP 2014 LEINSTER SENIOR CUP 1947/48, 1982/83, 1986/87, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1999/2000, 2011, 2014, 2019 LEAGUE OF IRELAND SHIELD 1959/60 FAI SUPER CUP 1999 DUBLIN CITY CUP 1953/54, 1955/56, 1975/76 LFA PRESIDENT'S CUP 1952/53, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1971/72, 1990/91, 1996/97 FAI INTERMEDIATE CUP 1947/48, 1948/49, 1952/53 (Reserves) FAI JUNIOR CUP 1940/41 FAI YOUTH CUP 1944/45

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Pitchside Sponsors We would like to thank the following who have sponsored the club for the 2020 season...

On a sobering note we look at last year’s headto-head performance where Waterford came out on top with 3 wins and scoring 5 without response in the two games in Inchicore last year. In domestic cup competitions Waterford’s run ended in the FAI cup quarter finals losing to last years defeated finalists Dundalk FC. WHAT TO EXPECT? A lot of changes in the Waterford squad with some highly rated players joining the ranks, which will give us an exciting and full of life team to watch for the upcoming season. They will want to improve on last year's positioning and hope to challenge higher up the ranks. Preseason wins against Wexford and Bray and a scoreless draw with Shamrock Rovers have given an insight into the way Waterford want to start the season flying high. New signing Ali Coote is highly anticipated for The Blues with manager Alan Reynolds saying; “He’s very hungry for a young player and he gained tremendous experience during his time at Dundee United.”

COMING IN With 10 new signings Waterford have been incredibly active on the transfer market. Tadhg Ryan joins between the sticks from Cork City.

Boosting Waterford’s defence are Sam Bone (Shamrock Rovers), Kevin O’Connor (Loan from Preston North End), Robbie McCourt (Bohemians) and Tyreke Wilson (Manchester City) while in midfield Scott Allardice (Bohemians) and Ali Coote (Brentford B) join the ranks. Up front Graham Cummins (Cork City), Matty Smith (Dundee United) and Michael O’Connor (Loan from Linfield) hope to grab the

It will be interesting to see how new signing Sam Bone settles into the back line after the departure of highly rated Rory Feely, who has come back to his roots with The Saints. Feely played a core part of Waterford’s defence, appearing 40 times for the club. vital goals for TheSam Blues.Bone

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The Dugout Stephen O’Donnell and Alan Mathews

I would like to welcome Stephen Bradley, his players and the officials of Shamrock Rovers to Richmond Park for this afternoon's Premier Division fixture. Rovers have picked up where they left off before the season was halted and are well placed for the remainder of the campaign. They have a strong squad and represent a stern challenge, but it's one that we are very much looking forward to.

After starting back with a good point in Dundalk, we were disappointed to lose here against Derry City a few days later. For a number of reasons, it just didn't come together for us on the evening. Having addressed those reasons, we bounced back with a good win against Finn Harps, and I was pleased to see Georgie Kelly notch his first couple of goals for the team.

We travelled to Ballybofey for Monday's FAI Cup tie in good spirits and hopeful of getting the result needed to ensure we would be in the draw for the next round. However, we weren't at our best and it was Harps who went through.

Despite falling behind early to a

sloppy goal, the players tried to remain positive as there were still 86 minutes left to put things right. However, the performance wasn't there for us on the evening, and while we were disappointed to be eliminated from the Cup, we have discussed where we fell short and moved on. With the games coming regularly, there is nothing to be gained from dwelling on a defeat.

Before the game in Finn Park, I had the opportunity to speak with a number of Pat's fans who had made the journey to Donegal. Unfortunately, the conversation took place through the bars of a gate as no spectators were permitted into the ground.

When you see that level of commitment from fans – travelling all that distance when they can't even gain access to the ground – it makes you even more determined to get a good result. Unfortunately, we couldn't deliver it, but I was extremely heartened to see such devotion, as were the players.

I have been very pleased with the application of the players during training, even if the results have been inconsistent.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

We are striving to develop a culture of hard work and consistency, and a good result today would provide the ideal foundation to build towards that.

After starting back with a hectic schedule of four games in ten days, today's game is our first game in six days. I'm hoping that break from the sheer intensity of competitive football will stand to the players and that there will be more of a refreshed look to our performance.

Once again, we know that you will be tuning in to watch the game and that is something we have talked about during team discussions.

These remain challenging times for the entire country and it is our objective to put a smile back on the face of Pat's fans today. I can't guarantee that we will win, but I can promise that the players will deliver an honest and committed performance.

Enjoy the games and stay safe, Stephen O’Donnell

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Oh My Word!

Ronan O’Flaherty @ronanoflaherty

"Over the years, the barriers of the past – the distrust and prejudices of the past – will be eroded, and a new society will evolve, a new Ireland based on agreement and respect for difference."

We woke up to sad news on Monday, August 3.

There was, of course, more to John Hume than

John Hume had passed away and the loss was

the diplomat and peacemaker. There was John

sharply felt across the entire island. Here was a

Hume the family man. John Hume the educator.

man who did the unthinkable by achieving

The music lover. The chocolate lover.

peace through peaceful means. The plaudits have poured in, but it won't be until several years have passed that the magnitude of all he accomplished is truly appreciated.

During his funeral, on Wednesday of last week, Fr Sean Farren described John Hume's impact in simple yet powerful language: "There are people alive today who would not be alive had it not been for John's vision and his work."

Aidan Hume could not attend his father's funeral. He was in Boston, where he now lives, and was prevented from travelling due to Covid-19 restrictions. He did, however, write a poem for the requiem mass that perfectly captured the essence of his father's life. In Aidan's absence, his sister Mo read the poem, which described the actions of a man who displayed patriotism through his sheer force of personality, will and towering intellect.

"Patriotism is the spilling of sweat, not blood.

And then there was John Hume the Derry City supporter.

One only had to follow the movements of the hearse carrying his wicker coffin as it pulled away from St Eugene's Cathedral. Its next port of call would be the Brandywell, where he passed by the home of his beloved Candystripes one final time.

There are similarities between Derry City and St Patrick's Athletic. That's not a simple reference to both clubs' foundation dates, nor is it a nod to the predominance of red in both clubs' home jerseys. On a purely human level, the people of the Bogside share a variety of traits with Inchicore folk. We saw it in the way the fans mingled before and after the 2006 and 2012 FAI Cup finals, which were heart-rending occasions for Pat's fans.

John Hume was fundamentally decent long before he ever went eye to eye with British

"The glory of the gun is a myth that is truly a

soldiers in a plea for calm. And he was

dud."

fundamentally decent long before he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

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unique way he had affected

behind his back and his head

their individual families.

arched forward as he made his way. A friend placed a hand

However, not only would there

behind Mr Hume as he walked,

be no mingling of fans; there

in a caring way that suggested

would be no fans.

he was no longer as sure-

The last time I laid eyes on John Hume it was following a match between Pat's and Derry that, like last week, finished 2-

John Hume RIP

hello. Others, like me, stopped and stared at a living icon.

That FAI Cup triumph meant so

the scoreline was in favour of

much to all connected with St

the Saints.

Patrick’s Athletic. It is a

The streets of Ballsbridge are a

Decent and normal. A person of

Bogside neighbourhoods that

the people.

he grew up in. In 1961, when Pat's won the FAI Cup for the

Whoever was next up against

second time, John Hume was 24

Derry City following his death

and just setting out on his

was going to have their work

journey. Between then and the

cut out. Unluckily for St

next time Pat's won the Cup he

Patrick’s Athletic, it was us.

would achieve so much, with his role in the Northern Ireland

fans would have mingled in the

people stopped him to say

0, although on that occasion

world removed from the

In other circumstances, the

footed as he once was. Some

peace process his greatest accomplishment.

competition that has given us more bad days than good. The latest bad day occurred this past Monday, when Finn Harps but paid to our Cup hopes for another year. But we will always have those warm memories of six years ago, when Christy Fagan netted a brace, Brian Kerr shed tears of joy in the commentary box, and John Hume offered gracious words to Pat's fans afterwards.

hostelries of Emmet Road before the match. We would

He was heavier on his feet as

have offered consoling words

he walked away from

We will always have the

at the passing of Mr Hume and

Lansdowne Road on that

memories.

listened attentively as they

November evening in 2014. His

told us stories about the

hands were joined together

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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Dodge’s Data

@seidodge

League Record v Shamrock Rovers HOME GAMES

35

W

D

AWAY GAMES

87

88

GOALS

115

70

175 25

GOALS

110

A

60

39

24

21

H

TOTAL GAMES

25

31

L

92

GOALS

116

202

231

Last 10 Games v Shamrock Rovers 02/06/17

26/09/17

02/06/17

26/09/17

02/06/17

26/09/17

26/09/17

02/06/17

26/09/17

02/06/17

Tallaght

Richmond Park

Tallaght

Richmond Park

Tallaght

Richmond Park

Richmond Park

Tallaght

Richmond Park

Tallaght

2-0

2-0

W

1-1

0-0 0-1

League

League

League

League

0-3

0-1

0-1

0-1

0-2

League

League

League

League

League

D L

League

AUGUST

16

ON THIS DAY 1989

Bray Wanderers

A

League Cup

1-1

Mark Ennis

1992

Shamrock Rovers

H

League Cup

1-0

John Ryan

1995

UCD

H

League Cup

1-1

Johnny Glynn

1996

Shamrock Rovers

A

League Cup

3-1

Ricky O’Flaherty 2, Brian Morrisroe

2013

Shelbourne

H

League

1-0

Stephen Maher

2019

Sligo Rovers

H

League

2-0

Glen McAuley, Dave Webster

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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OUR GAME IS ON THE BALL

UMBRO TEAMWEAR

TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT UMBRO.IE OR CONTACT RICHY ON 086 0317672

Untitled-8 1

11/02/2020 12:14

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AUGUST

16 1996

Irish Independent - Sat 17 August 1996 League Cup - Group E - Tolka Park

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 ST PATRICK'S ATH 3

By Noel Dunne

SAINTS ALIVE AT TOLKA Shamrock Rovers have obviously taken a liking to the smooth green "carpet" at their new Tolka Park home, they had it ripped from under their feet last night by the rampant Reds.

Maybe this Group E tie in the League Cup was nol quite up to the barnstorming session between the Hoops and Shels the other night, but it was a very satisfying and acceptable offering for the fans nonetheless. Another good augury for the months ahead. It certainly had an explosive beginning, with each side scoring in the first five minutes.

Sean Francis led the way for the homesters when from Pat Fenlon's long ball he skipped his way through slack cover — Pal's were without the suspended Mick Moody and John McDonnell as well as Trevor Crolly — to beat Gareth Byrne. But sixty seconds later Paul Osam found Ricky O'Flaherty perferctly and the striker cracked home a fine equaliser. From then to the break Rovers regained control — but not the lead. Fenlon often seemed to have the better of an intriguing midfield battle with Eddie Gormley, and they should have been in front at the interval.

They were out of luck admittedly in the 22nd minute when a perfect cross from Karl Gannon was just barely missed in front of goal by Francis and then carried on to Tony Cousins who fired it into the side netting. But 20 minutes later Francis shot badly over the top.

Cousins was also too high immediately after the restart and with Brian Morrisroe and Gormley now getting on top in the centre of the field. Rovers were made pay for their sins in the 58th minute when Morrisroe left Alan O'Neill with no chance with a glorious viciously swerving left-footer from almost 25 yards. Rod de Khors came on for John Toal but Pat's were now tigerish in their quest for more.

And they got one in 71 minutes when after a beautiful exchange between Osam and Morrisroe, this time it was the former who slipped a great ball to Ricky O'Flaherty who swung it gleefully into the net.

O'Neill, Brazil, Kelly, Curtis, Whelan, Toal, Gannon, Fenlon, Francis, Cousins, Tracey.

Subs: De Khors for Toal (59 mins).

Lynch for Cousins (82 mins).

St Patrick’s Athletic G. Byrne, Burke, Osam, Mulraney, Lynch, Gormley, Campbell, Reilly, Glynn, O'Flaherty, Morrisroe.

Subs: John Byrne for Campbell (72 mins.), Jason Byrne for O'Flaherty (78 mins.)

Referee: Mr. H. Byrne (Dublin).

BRAZILIAN MAGIC . . . Shamrock Rover’s Gino Brazil nicks the ball off the toes of St Pat’s winger Martin Reilly at Tolka Park last night.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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Shamrock Rovers

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Opposition Watch James Fenton

HOW DID 2019 GO? In Stephen Bradley's third full season in charge, Rovers showed clear signs of progression. The Hoops finished second behind Dundalk, which was their highest position since winning the league back in 2011. As well as that, the club clinched their first FAI Cup since 1987, defeating the Lilywhites 4-2 on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw.

HOW IS 2020 GOING SO FAR? Quite well, it has to be said. Before the coronavirus lockdown, Rovers stormed to the top of the table by winning their opening five games. After the long break, they've picked up where they left off, maintaining their 100% record with wins over Finn Harps and Derry City. However, it took two late goals last Sunday to secure the 2-1 win over Derry, after Rovers went in at half time trailing 1-0.

ONE TO WATCH Midfielder Jack Byrne's exploits with the Republic of Ireland senior side have led to plenty of eyes being drawn to his League of Ireland performances of late. The 24-year-old was capped twice by Mick McCarthy in 2019 and he will be hoping to establish himself further in the international set-up under Stephen Kenny. His instrumental 2019 season was further rewarded when he was named PFAI Player of the Year and longlisted for RTE's Sportsperson of the Year.

IN THE DUGOUT Saints fans will remember Stephen Bradley from his spell at Richmond Park in 2011 when he played a key role in our run to the third qualifying round of the Europa League. Since taking permanent charge at Rovers, the 35-year-old has guided the club to two third-place finishes in the league before they clinched the runners-up spot last year. In this year's truncated season, Bradley will be fully focused on maintaining The Hoops' position at the top of the table and adding the Premier Division title to the FAI Cup they won in 2019.

OUR RECENT RECORD AGAINST THE VISITORS Saints have failed to score a goal against our Dublin rivals since we beat them 2-0 in May 2018. Last season, we lost three times to Rovers by scores of 1-0, 1-0 and 2-0 before a scoreless draw in Tallaght in September.

So you might just say we're due one.

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Shamrock Rovers Honours LEAGUE OF IRELAND: 17 1922/23, 1924/25, 1926/27, 1931/32, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1953/54, 1956/57, 1958/59, 1963/64, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1993/94, 2010, 2011 FAI CUP: 25 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1987, 2019 LEAGUE OF IRELAND SHIELD: 18 1924–25, 1926–27, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68.

LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST DIVISION: 1 2006 LEAGUE CUP: 2 1977, 2013 SETANTA SPORTS CUP: 2 2011, 2013

Jack Byrne

Records RECORD VICTORY: 11-0 v Bray Unknowns, 28 October 1928 RECORD DEFEAT: 0-7 v St James’s Gate, 22 April 1937 0-7 v Cork City, 31 August 1938 0-7 v Gornik Zabrze, 1994-95 MOST LEAGUE GOALS IN A SEASON: 27 - Bob Fullam, 1922-23 24 - Gary Twigg, 2009 23 - Stephen Geoghegan, 1993-94 RECORD LEAGUE GOALSCORER: 109 - Paddy Ambrose 104 - Paddy Coad 92 - Bob Fullam

Stephen Bradley 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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Stephen Bennett @stebenn15

FAI Harp Lager National League - Premier Division Irish Independent - Sat 24 April 1999

SHAMROCK ROVERS 0 ST PATRICK'S ATH 1

By Philip Quinn

IT was tight, tense and, occasionally thrilling, as St Patrick's Athletic swept to the brink of their third title in four seasons at a throbbing Tolka Park last night.

The Hoops were roused, as were their supporters, when a large Rovers flag at the Ballybough End of the ground, near the massed St Pat's support in the 5,000 crowd, was set alight thirteen minutes from time.

As incensed Rovers fans spilled onto the pitch, the game was held up for five minutes and emotions ran high. The damaged flag was quickly taken down and when play resumed, the Rovers players, and their fans, served up a grandstand finish.

A first half strike from centre half Colin Hawkins, his seventh League goal of the season, teed the Saints up for a richly-deserved triumph and condemned the Hoops to mid-table mediocrity on their Tolka farewell.

With one game remaining, at home to Bray Wanderers next Sunday, the Saints, who have bagged a record 70 points, require one more to be sure of retaining their titie — but they may not even have to wait that long.

LONG-TIME RIVALS If their long-time rivals Cork City fail to beat third-placed Shelbourne at Turner's Cross tomorrow, the Saints will be crowned champions.

Wilh the Reds chasing the Inter Toto Cup place . City won't have it their own way but no one should be too surprised if their duel with the Saints goes right to the wire.

The leaders did their bit last night, winning by a more comfortable margin than the scoreline might suggest, even if Rovers died with their boots on following a brave late flurry.

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Paul Osam is challenged by Mark Kenny of Rovers.

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The Pats team line up prior to the game v Shamrock Rovers.

The team line up is listed below but can you put a name to the faces above? Answers on page 37.

That Rovers were still in the game was due to Trevor Molloy's blind spot shortly after Hawkins' lead goal, when he pulled a penalty wide of goal. In a full-blooded contest, the Hoops made a reasonable fist of stretching the Saints but they lacked a cutting edge in the final third and relied on Marc Kenny's set-piece skills for inspiration. Kenny isn't exactly Mr Mobile in open play but he strikes a mean ball and from free-kicks and comers and the Saints had to be vigilant.

Otherwise, the Saints were all huff and puff without seriously hurting the champions, although their second half grit was almost rewarded in the 75th minute when Jason Sherlock created half a yard in the box, swivelled and shot only for Trevor Wood, to paw away. By then, the Saints should have been out of sight as they carved out the lion's share of the scoring chances with the impish Molloy a box of tricks.

From the outset, he was too hot to handle for the ponderous Rovers defence, which sorely missed the pace and anticipation of Gino Brazil.

In the 14th minute, the Irish U-2I striker spun away from stand-in sweeper Jason Colwell, cut in from the right flank, and drilled a low shot which Robert Forde pushed away at full stretch.

Molloy then placed Martin Russell in the clear with a delightful flick on half-way but the cultured midfielder lifted his effort over as he bore down on goal.

DELIGHTFUL FLICK Just past the half-hour, Forde denied Paul Osam with a stunning tip over after Martin Reilly's cross unhinged the Hoops defence and from the resultant corner, the Saints struck.

Molloy swung the ball into the far-post where Billy Woods fluffed his clearance and Hawkins hammered the ball high into the net from close range. Two minutes later, Molloy was taken down by Forde after tacking on to a defencesplitting pass from Russell but he dragged his spot kick wide.

Following the flag furore, Rovers stirred themselves, forcing the Saints on the back foot for the final hectic minutes but there was just no way back.

SHAMROCK ROVERS Forde; Britton, Woods, Palmer, Whelan, Colwell, Tracey, O'Connor, Sherlock, Kenny, O'Neill.

Sub: Murray for O'Neill (65).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC Wood; McGuinness, Lynch, Hawkins, Crolly, Morgan, Osam, Russell, Clarke, Reilly, Molloy.

Subs: Burke for Osam (67); Gormley for Russell (76); Gilzean for Molloy (89).

REFEREE - A. O’Regan, Cork.

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Red & White Wonderland Favourite Manager Brian Kerr

I really do not think the club would be in existence today if it was not for Brian Kerr. The phrase ‘blood, sweat and tears’ really sums up his love affair with the club. He was more than a manager. His fingerprints were all over all aspects of the club; from fund-raising, community engagement to clearing broken glass of the training ‘pitch’ in St Michael’s Estate for his ‘90 league winning team. His resilience in the face of numerous crisis, his ability to build and rebuild successful squads, his sheer passion and enthusiasm and all round madness; a true legend.

His heart-warming and emotional reaction to winning the 2014 FAI Cup was the living embodiment of the phrase ‘Once a Saint Always a Saint’. It is surely time to name something after him in Richmond Park or Inchicore?

Favourite Kit HOME This classic Autoglass one.

AWAY The Barca-eseque CLUNE one from 2014 Cup Final win.

First game Can’t for the life of me recall the exact game, much as it pains me to say.

Pretty sure it was the 83/84 season.

Favourite game It was against Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park on a cold winter’s night in 1987. Paddy Dillon and Mark Ennis scored in a 2-0 win to take us top of the table for the first time in my short time following the club. A packed Riverside stand dared to dream of a title win that night. Unfortunately, we were to lose out to Dundalk on the last day of that season.

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Favourite Player Eddie Gormley

He was pure footballing rock n’roll.

Immensely talented, attempted the audacious and normally pulled it off.

A leader, immense vision, scorer of great goals and genuinely two footed.

His getting sent off for throwing the ball at ref Jimmy McDermott v Rovers in ’98 only reinforced my love for the great man! Between ‘94-‘99 he was, by some distance, the best player in the League of Ireland. A ridiculous talent who should have been capped for Ireland.

Favourite Goal David “Dotsy” Kelly David (Dotsy) Kelly’s in a 1-0 win over Home Farm on the last day of the 84/85 season. A scruffy goal but one that secured our premier division status ahead of the arrival of the then new first division. Who knows what might have been had we lost that day? I was part of what was described by the late Con Houlihan as ‘the smallest kop I ever saw’ who invaded the pitch to celebrate the goal. Happy times!

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Ronan McCormack

Occupation Senior Brand Manager, Heineken Ireland From Inchicore Where I stand The Camac

Henderson

Fleming

Kelch McDonnell

Mernagh

Campbell

Osam

Byrne

gormley Russell

Fagan

DAVE HENDERSON Great keeper. Always produced the big saves when it mattered, not least from a Liam Coyle header v Derry City in Harold’s Cross in 1990. Trevor Wood would run him close but Hendo gets my nod.

CURTIS FLEMING Such a stylish, classy and reliable player.

As good going forward as he was defending. Went on to have the great professional career he deserved, at both club and international level.

PAT KELCH A great man for a mazy dribble and the odd tumble in the opposition’s box.

Scored the odd cracker too. I recall a peach against Rovers in a 4-2 win in the RDS. Once won a 3 stone bag of potatoes for his MOTM award during the Harold Cross years! Kelchie just gets in ahead of Peter Carpenter.

JOHN MCDONNELL A superb defender and leader who always gave everything. Gutted when he left to join Rovers but came to his senses and returned to be a key part of the ’96 winning team. Just pips Darragh Maguire.

DAVE CAMPBELL Tough as nails and forged a great partnership with Mc Donnell.

Commanding in the air (elbows out), strong in the tackle and the scorer of more than a few goals. The only blot on his career was his subsequent move to Shels!

NOEL MERNAGH An unsung hero of the ‘96 winning team.

A scrapper, fixer upper, and all round pest who did much of the dirty work to allow others play. Along with Carpenter and O’Flaherty – this Galway man made a huge contribution.

EDDIE GORMLEY Hard to put into words. He had everything. Two great feet, amazing vision, an eye for a goal, loved a tackle and had that bit of ‘divilment’ that all the greats have. I am not sure I will ever see his likes again in a Pats shirt.

PAUL OSAM Such a graceful player. Amazing strength and vision. Always seemed to have time and space on the ball. Got better as he got older and a model of consistency.

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Will never forget his goal against Cork to all but win the league in ’99.

MARTIN RUSSELL Completes the ‘holy trinity’. Such vision, deadly from set-pieces, contributed massively to our the title winning season (that never was according to the FAI) – he was Mr Set Piece Athletic under Pat Dolan. A truly gifted player.

CONAN BYRNE The assists and goal stats speak for themselves. Another model of consistency. I never felt he got the credit he deserved. Superb player who made a massive contribution to the club on the pitch and was (and still is) a great ambassador off it.

CHRISTY FAGAN What a player. Benefitted massively from playing under Liam Buckely. Such a clever player, amazing strength and deadly in front of goal. Who will ever forget his winning goal in the 2014 final?

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Pensive Points Jimmy Edwards @jimmyedwards41

Good Evening All, Welcome to what is surely to be the quietest Dublin Derby we will have ever had against Shamrock Rovers with no supporters in the ground.

It will be a strange game to be watching on the watchloi.ie streaming service without the atmosphere of both sets of fans singing and waving their colours at both ends of the ground. I must say that the watchloi.ie has been a great service for the fans of all clubs and when things do get back to normal (whatever that will look like) I for one would love to see the streaming service staying for the future in some form. It would be great for example if you could purchase an away season ticket for your club or on a game by game basis, either way I hope it’s here to stay.

Harps the following Friday in a game in which we could have had a few more goals but then we travelled to play Harps away in the Cup three days later and we got beaten 1-0. We were very poor against Finn Harps on the night but they weren’t great either and only scored because of an error at the back from us and it still feels like a missed opportunity to go further in the Cup. I suppose up and down results are to be expected for the first few weeks because the six teams not in Europe this year didn’t get the go ahead to resume training until a month after the four teams in the European competition’s.

It’s been hot and cold for us form wise since the re-start, we were excellent against Dundalk up in Oriel park in a televised game on RTE that many will feel we should have won and then we went into the Derry game three days later on the Monday here at home in Richmond Park and lost 2-0 in what was a poor overall performance, we then followed that up with a deserved 2-0 victory over Finn

Tonight we are playing against the league leaders and on current form the best team in the league. Rovers have really kicked on from winning the Cup last season and look like they could break Dundalk’s domestic dominance. In Jack Byrne they have a real star player that is capable of the unordinary but they have strength and depth throughout their team and this is something the rest of the

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

teams in the league have to try and match and catch up on.

I was delighted when I heard we had managed to bring in Georgie Kelly on loan from Dundalk for the rest of the season as he is a very good player, clever, strong, fast and a very good finisher. I have also been very impressed with new arrivals Jordan Gibson and David Titov who have shown great energy and commitment and will only get better as the season progresses. Dan Ward and Shane Griffin are also starting to show that they were great signings at the start of the season and with the likes of Robbie Benson, Chris Forrester, Darragh Markey and Billy King in the squad there’s reasons to be optimistic if we can be a bit meaner in defence that we can go on a bit of a run and hopefully challenge for the top four and one of the European spots.

Enjoy the game, Up the Saints.

Jimmy

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WWW.MIG.IE

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The 1950’s Dermot Looney @dlooney

The Golden Era Pat’s almost replicated the treble of three years previously in the 1950-51 season. They completed the LSL Division One four-in-arow, regained the FAI Intermediate Cup, and came runners-up in the Leinster Senior Cup. By this stage the League of Ireland could no longer ignore the most successful club from outside their ranks and Pat’s were admitted to the single-division, twelve-team LOI for the 1951-52 season alongside Transport, who shared similar roots in the old GSR club.

What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. There are few examples anywhere in world football of a team entering an established top-flight professional league from the nonleague ranks and winning it at the first attempt, but that’s exactly what the Saints did. Using much the same team as had dominated the Leinster Senior League in the four years previous, St Patrick’s Athletic began their maiden season inauspiciously, with just four wins in their first twelve games in the Shield and various cups. Indeed, the Saints lost their first League game proper, but went on to secure the title with a free-scoring approach led by the great Shay Gibbons who netted 26 goals in 22 League games.

This was no flash in the pan. Pat’s became the dominant force in Irish football in the 1950’s. League wins followed in 1954-55 and 1955-56. The Saints reached their first FAI Senior Cup final in 1954, losing out to Drumcondra. They eventually won the Cup for the first time in 1959, in a replay against Waterford. Pat’s also enjoyed considerable success in minor competitions such as the LFA President’s Cup (won three times in the fifties), the Dublin City Cup (won in 1953-54) and the League of Ireland Shield (won in 1959-60). Even the reserves got in on the act, winning the Leinster Senior League League Division One twice, two Metropolitan Cups, and one FAI Intermediate Cup.

their home and hearth in Richmond Park. The club’s offices stayed on Emmet Road and the pitch was still used for reserve team games and occasional matches, but League requirements meant that Pat’s had to base themselves elsewhere, beginning with Glenmalure Park, then Chapelizod, and finally Dalymount Park. Of these, the speedway and greyhound stadium at Chapelizod was perhaps handiest, but Pat’s huge fanbase travelled extensively on foot, by bike and by bus to ‘home games,’ while hundreds availed of CIE’s free travel for employees by taking the train to away matches in Cork, Limerick and Sligo.

Players from this era have gone down in Pat’s history, folklore and mythology. Even the nicknames seemed top class. Timber Cummins, Barreller Cassidy, Longo White and Ginger O’Rourke lined up with other club legends like Shay Gibbons, Harry Boland, Fergie Crawford, Jimmy Collins, Dinny Lowry, Tommy Desay, Dano Donnelly and Willie Peyton, to mention just a few. Names which trip off the tongue to this day.

Plans for the renovation of Richmond Park were initially ambitious but tempered somewhat in a difficult economic climate. A Main Stand was constructed, as legend would have it using steel acquired from the CIE Works, and other improvements meant that the ground was ready for League football on a permanent basis from early 1960. The Saints were brought back home, but after the dizzying heights of League and Cup success in the fifties, they were also soon brought back to earth.

Perhaps the only thing which marred this remarkable era was that Pat’s had to play away from

Honours League of Ireland Champions: 3 (1951-52, 1954-55, 1955-56) FAI (Senior) Cup: 1958-59 Other Cups: LFA President’s Cup (1952-53, 1953-54, 1955-56), Dublin City Cup (1953-54), League of Ireland Shield (1959-60) Leinster Senior League Division One champions: 3 (1950-51, 1955-56 [reserve team], 1956-57 [reserve team]) Other Cups: FAI Intermediate Cup 2 (1950-51, 1952-53 [reserve team]), Metropolitan Cup 2 (1956-57 [reserve team], 1958-59 [reserve team])

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Community Dave Morrissey @dave_pats

A lot can change in a week. In the last edition of The Saint I referenced the excitement of football being back at Richmond Park, albeit without many of the key components that make supporting a football club special.

While the team recorded a welcome win at home

holders to tonight’s game. While that number

to Finn Harps, I sat in the Main Stand alone as

represents a paltry amount of our match going

Georgie Kelly netted his first goals in red and

fanbase, it would have been fantastic to have

white. Normally when a new striker arrives at a

some supporters scattered around Richmond

club (amidst plenty of anticipation) and scores

Park which would have gone some way towards

his first home goal, fervour and excitement

recreating the passion involved in a Dublin

follow in the stands and on the terraces. His

derby, albeit on a smaller scale. From watching

goals last Friday were greeted with cheers on

derby games abroad in a Covid-19 world, the

the pitch (and in the dugout) and some isolated

passion and emotion that makes those games

roars from volunteers spread sporadically across

special sadly ceases to exist. In any other year,

the ground. While football fans love following

both sets of supporters would be fired up for

the fortunes of our teams from near and far, the

tonight’s game as they come through the

absence of the crowd as a collective, leads to

turnstiles. They would be right behind their

the inability to share that special feeling after a

teams from the off. Dublin derbies are special

goal is scored, in unison. Football brings people

and what happens in the stands often has more

together like no other. Consider some of the

impact on young people attending games than

online commentary surrounding our recent

what happens on the pitch. I recall attending St

results and performances. While it is fantastic

Pat’s games against Shamrock Rovers, Shels and

for football fans to interact online and discuss

Bohs as a child and being completely

the highs and lows of the game, many of those

mesmerised by the noise, colour, and excitement

discussions should and would normally be

in the stands. The following days were spent

taking place walking out of the gates of

repeating the songs from the terraces rather

Richmond Park, in the car coming home from

than attempting to recreate the winning goal.

Finn Park, or in the pubs in Inchicore and

While many young fans will be watching at home

beyond.

with family and friends on the excellent Watch LOI, the future growth of the league is

Everybody at the club had hoped that we would be welcoming circa three hundred season ticket

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contingent on what is happening at the game and not purely the game itself.

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It seems strange to be writing notes to a Dublin derby without pausing to consider who might be in the ground for the first time and to wonder how they feel as they approach and leave Richmond Park. It feels like an opportunity passed by, a non-existent chance for a young kid to follow my path (and the path of countless others) on the road to becoming a Saints supporter. No young people will be repeating the songs from the Shed End Invincibles for the first time this coming week.

While attending games cannot form part of community activities for the time being, we are beginning to resume programmes in Inchicore and the surrounding areas. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have a two-day Youth Project football tournament at Richmond Park, bringing together teenagers from Inchicore, Drimnagh, Rialto and Ballyfermot. While next Thursday and Friday we will be running a two-day football community camp in Bluebell for 28 young people from the area.

Hopefully, those young people will have the opportunity to learn the songs from the terraces one day soon.

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2014 FAI CUP FINAL SUBBUTEO PRINTS This artwork depicts the starting XI plus Liam Buckley on that historic day in Lansdowne Road in 2014.

€20

High quality Giclée art print.

Professionally printed on 250gsm stock.

Available in A3 Portrait.

Delivered in quality poster tube ready to be framed on arrival.

Contact info@stpatsfc.com to get your copy.

Frame not included.

Limited Edition

14Aug20-Shamrock Rovers-FINAL_A5 14/08/2020 13:42 Page 27

Patron Saints This scheme is a special and unique initiative aimed at ALL St Patrick’s Athletic fans...

The main aim is to aid the long-term development of this great football club.

We firmly believe for any LOI Club to be successful, it needs the fans to play a huge part. As it’s your club, we are urging all fans, where possible, to join the scheme today.

For the past few years the Patron Saints have run: • The St Patrick’s Athletic Awards Night • Santa Claus visit to Richmond • The Hano Cup These were all fundraised through Golden Goals, raffles and innovative events such as snail racing.

Projects the Patron Saints have contribute to: • Emmet Road Mural • U19s Team Kit • Heart Monitoring Equipment • Media Room Renovation • West Stand Repairs • Club Shop • Grounds Keeping Equipment • Strength and Conditioning Equipment.

Benefits of joining the Patron Saints: • Badge & Membership Card • Priority access to Match tickets • Voting rights on what projects Patron Saints funds will go on • Twice yearly meeting with club officials

• Discounts on most Patron run events • Free annual raffle for player signed jersey sponsored by the Patron Saints • Free annual raffle for a set of signed programmes of the season

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP GOLD MEMBERSHIP

€10 per week | €40 per month | €480 per year

SILVER MEMBERSHIP

€5 per week | €20 per month | €240 per year

BRONZE MEMBERSHIP

€5 per week | €60 per year

For more information or to sign up: email stpatssc@gmail.com, go to facebook.com/spafcpatronsaints or pop by the Patron Saints desk in the club shop on match nights.

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Con Houlihan on Inchicore Sean Creedon From: The Lost Essays, Con Houlihan’s Ireland. Published by Irish Independent, Saturday March 9, 2013.

Rivers like the Camac, which runs through Inchicore, are good for people: they are nature’s psychiatrists I spent a very happy little stint in Clondalkin when the Red Cow pub was a long, white-washed house where people played draughts in one corner. I live now in Portobello. The township of Inchicore is about halfway between there and Clondalkin, and over 25 years I have come to know it fairly well.

fish, and then there is the remarkable part of the canal which you might call Swan Lane.

The mecca of the swans is a little to the east of a famous pub call the Black Horse.

What the name means I am far from sure; my guess is that it signifies ‘‘the commonage by the river.’’

Nobody seems to understand why the swans favour this stretch of water so much – their number seldom falls below a hundred.

Inchicore is very much in the centre of things; the main road to the south runs past one side; the main railway line on this island runs past on the other side. The Grand Canal runs through it from east to west; the Camac courses through it from south to north.

The celebrated poet from Newcastle West lived nearby for a while and published a book of very short poems called ‘Inchicore Haiku’ – but Michael Hartnett, as far as I know, has yet to write about the meeting place of the swans.

The Camac is a remarkable river: It runs so wild and free that you can hardly believe that to a certain extent it was shaped by man: sometime in the last century its waters were diverted to turn a mill wheel.

Railway lines, like rivers, are good for people. They are a symbol of life. Sometimes when I am in Inchicore I think of a novel by the great Belgian Georges Simenon, ‘The Man Who Watched Trains Go By.’

The mill is long since gone but the Camac hasn’t been put back on its original course, even though to reach the heart of Inchicore it has to travel under the Grand Canal.

Inchicore has long been known as railway country. Many men there worked as carriage builders or in some other department of the transport business.

‘‘Camac’’ probably comes from ‘‘Cam Abha,’’ the Crooked River. There was a time when it was famous for brown trout; then the paper mills came to Clondalkin and the little river became woefully polluted.

Heuston Station, or Kingsbridge as it was known until the mid-1960s is only a little distance from the heart of Inchicore. John Betjeman, an authority in this field, has described this station as the most handsome known to him.

In the late 1980s the paper mills closed down and we witnessed the Camac being born again. One day when I was at a game in Richmond Park, I heard splashing in the river beneath me and I was delighted to see two young mallard, a duck and a drake.

Rivers are good for people: they are nature’s psychiatrists – and the more a river is in good health, the more beneficial it is.

The people of Inchicore are favoured by nature. The Camac in time will again be a good fishing river; the nearby stretch of the Grand Canal abounds in course

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The River Liffey flows by the station; the vast wonderland of the Phoenix Park is not very far away – and so it fair to say that the good people of Inchicore are very much in the mainstream.

On the south bank of the river you will come to the War Memorial Park. It is about 20 acres in extent and contains a lovely Garden of Remembrance, a tribute to the 50,000 Irishmen who lost their lives in World War One. In this beautiful garden there is a great cross about 30

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feet high designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens; there is also a pavilion in which are kept the names and the records of all those who died in the war.

And so when the heart-rending cry of ‘‘ball in the river” goes up, there is a brave man ready to retrieve it with a hoop at the end of a long pole.

The very heart of Inchicore is a rectangle of ground off Emmet Road on its western side. This is Richmond Park, the home of St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club.

Among those who have played for Pat’s are three men who are part of football folklore: Terry Venables and Gordon Banks and Paul McGrath – and another famous man, Barry Bridges, was once their manager.

This club has had a remarkable history; for a long time its members and its followers were like one of the lost tribes of Israel. Once upon a time, they were based in Vaughan’s Field near the Red Cow; then they moved to the greyhound track in Chapelizod; next they come to Richmond Park; from thence they moved to Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium, and then, at last, they came back to Richmond Park, and came to stay.

The move to Harold’s Cross came because the pitch in Richmond Park had such a slope and was so pitted with holed that it was past being a joke.

Patrick’s spent four successful years in Harold’s Cross – and yet the followers moaned as if part of an involuntary diaspora, and they used to say ‘Since Patrick’s left Inchicore.’’

The refugees are back now in their promised land; the new stadium is a shining example of what can be achieved by energy and intelligence and imagination.

Many of Patrick’s most passionate followers are elderly people who are not overendowed with the earth’s riches – it would be hard to exaggerate how much the club means to them.

It is a people’s club in the fullest sense of the term: it cannot be bought and its ground is safe forever from the greedy hands of the ‘’the developers.’’

Not far from Richmond Park you will come to a formidable stone building. This was once Kilmainham Gaol; in its grounds the leaders of the 1916 Rising were executed. It was closed down in 1924 and is now a magnificent museum.

Nearby is the Royal Hospital. Charles II built it in 1679 as a home for war veterans.

It is now one of Dublin’s greatest buildings; it serves as art gallery, banqueting hall, conference centre and exhibition complex.

For me the most precious part of Inchicore and its environs is the little lane that leads eastwards by the back of the gaol.

It is like a piece of the country in the heart of the city. It has green spaces and hedges and trees and there you can hear the birds sing. There, too, you will find a little pub which from the outside looks like a private house.

This is the Old Royal Oak – and long may it last.

The Oblate Fathers’ Church and House of Retreat, meanwhile, is a famous meeting place for people who need spiritual renewal.

In its own way, it is like the meeting place of the swans.

The Camac flows very close to the western side of the pitch, behind a line of tall trees; it runs swiftly and would lose no time in taking a straying football down to the Liffey.

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CLUB SHOP EY HOME JERS CHILD €50 ADULT €65

EY AWAY JERS CHILD €50 ADULT €65

CKET ANTHEM JA CHILD €42 5 5 € T L U AD

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Squad Sponsorship 2020 1 Brian Maher

2 Rory Feely

SMcN Consulting 4 Dan Ward

3 Ian Bermingham

The Clock

Bill Duggan

5 Lee Desmond Will Morgan

7 Robbie Benson

8 Darragh Markey

The Malt House 10 Ronan Hale Kevin Roche

Tommy Keyes 9 Martin Rennie

The Clock

Sean Foley

11 Dean Clarke

14 Luke McNally

Sweeney Family

15 Billy King

6 Jamie Lennon

16 Jay McClelland

The Malt House 17 Simon Madden

St Patrick’s Athletic Supporters Group

Cian Menton 18 Jake Walker

19 Chris Forrester

O’Callaghan Family 21 Paul Cleary

Mtiscot.land 22 James Doona

Brian Bramhall 26 Brendan Clarke Conro Services 35 Darragh Burns Thompson Solicitors

Joan Stapleton 27 Cian Hughes

20 Shane Griffin Daragh O’Halloran 25 Conor Kearns Dalton Family 34 Ben McCormack

Lauren O’Reilly

Conor O’Toole

Stephen O’Donnell

Patrick Cregg

The Patron Saints

Daragh O’Toole

Pat Jennings

Alan Mathews

Zoe O’Reilly

Grace O’Reilly

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Unravelling the myth of the Great Dublin Derby hijack Dublin derbies have raised the blood pressure of supporters, managers and players for decades.

There's nothing quite like it in League of Ireland terms and fans of all four main Dublin clubs relish the occasions.

Also, the inconvenient truth that you can now get a Luas from Tallaght to Phibsboro declares that nonsense null and void.

Lately, however, a few amateur marketeers have gotten their mits on these spectacles and decided to package them into neat little plots and subplots.

The games between Bohs and Shelbourne? Yep, that'll be a Northside derby. Which is technically and geographically correct, but it remains like Pats and Rovers, essentially a Dublin derby.

While St Patrick's Athletic have enjoyed keen rivalries over the years with Rovers, Bohemians and Shelbourne, it is the Hoops' clashes with Bohemians that are now regarded in the mainstream as 'the' Dublin derby.

So, during that period where Bohs and Rovers began claiming this non-existent monopoly on 'the Dublin derby', Pats were winning trophies all the big ones in fact. A quick refresher, League title (2013), FAI Cup (2014), League Cups (2015 & 2016).

We might suspect that this move has come from those at Dalymount Park more than Rovers.

Bohemians' well-heralded financial struggles during most of the previous decade came at a time when St Pat's were Dublin's most successful club.

Rovers were also in a state of flux following the departure of Michael O'Neill and perhaps both needed something to stay relevant. Both clung to this derby like a winning lottery ticket.

Some expert then decided to brush the PatsRovers rivalry off as the 'Luas' derby. You see what they did there? From Dublin derby to Luas derby. Very clever indeed.

The fact that nobody, except for a handful of newspapers, refers to today's match as the 'Luas' derby reflects the ridiculousness of the label.

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So we might suspect a hint of jealousy. Also there's the fact that Richmond Park could - in non-Covid times - accomodate more than a 'compromised' Dalymount Park, meaning that there are more fans at Pats and Rovers games than the 'deadly' more fierce one at Dalymount.

Go figure.

While Rovers are Rovers and its image hasn't changed much over the decades, Bohs have undergone a makeover of epic proportions.

While I'm all for creative marketing to promote the game, if you were to look at it clinically, it seems there is not a cause or an angle unexplored in Phibsboro in the name of being different for, in many cases, difference sake.

Rascals Brewery up the road from Richmond Park

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

14Aug20-Shamrock Rovers-FINAL_A5 14/08/2020 13:42 Page 33

Charlie McGrath

into a drop-off and distribution point for food parcels, given to local families and individuals who are struggling in this time of crisis.

This process of 'ghosting' Pats in the last number of years, suits Rovers and Bohs perfectly as it leaves them free, as they see it, to pursue this dream of a Dublin 'Old Firm'. Spare me.

recently unveiled their new Saints 'red' lager. That's it, it's a beer connected to the club. A short time before that, Bohs revealed their latest venture Gin. But no ordinary gin, this is a gin including, wait for it, "nettle foraged from Dalymount."

The obvious mistake was that they didn't name it after the previous incumbent of the hallowed sod, 'Pisser' Dignam himself.

Bohs have also become involved in some very worthy causes for which they deserve the highest amount of credit, namely highlighting the plight

of refugees on their away jersey and Dublin's inner-city homeless problem on the women's team kit who have entered the National League for the first time.

Their work supporting children in direct provision centres, particularly at Christmas, was great to see.

Great causes.

What's also a great cause, but delivered with much less fanfare, is the tremendous work done by St Pats' community officer Dave Morrissey and others at the club in turning Richmond Park

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

And Pats fans mostly couldn't care. It is a club that is comfortable in its own skin, that doesn't feel the need to grab people's attention when it doesn't have to, and enjoys its rivalries with its close neighbours.

It's a club proud of its roots and traditions. And also the silverware - those items that clubs are remembered most for.

So, we'll settle down and enjoy tonight's Dublin derby, St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, and hope that The Saints cause a few ripples of notice with a win.

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It’s Quiz Time!

Answers on Page 40

1

Mikel Arteta became the third Spanish manager to win the FA Cup this year.

Name the other three?

6

Who were the three managers that Fulham used in their last Premier League season?

2

Who were the opposition for Liam Buckley's last game in charge of the Saints?

7

Who was the only member of the Spanish squad at Euro 2000 and Euro 2016?

3

Who is the youngest referee to take charge of an FAI cup final?

8

Who is the only Englishman to be top scorer at a European Championship Tournament?

4

Which club did James McClean join after leaving Derry?

9

Who were the only team to beat a Brian Kerr - managed Ireland team in a competitive away fixture?

5

Which English international played on the losing team in an FA Cup final in the 80s and 90s and was also on the losing team in a European Cup final in the 90s?

10

Who is the only South African to win the Premier League?

Inchicore’s Newest Firm Proudly Supporting Inchicore’s Red Army CALL OR EMAIL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

10a Grattan Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin 8 Tel: +353 1 2150185 Email: info@thompsonsolicitors.ie

www.ThompsonSolicitors.ie 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

35

14Aug20-Shamrock Rovers-FINAL_A5 14/08/2020 13:43 Page 36

A View from Afar Ian Templeman

@iantemplemanloi

I'm an avid reader of football-themed material, be it newspapers, magazines, books or online, and during the offseason I spent time catching up with various publications, one of them being the always excellent "When Saturday Comes".

One story that caught my eye centred around a Leeds primary school teacher and part-time street artist called Andy McVeigh, who has built a reputation in the city due to his initiative in painting electric boxes around Leeds with colourful Leeds United-themed murals. Andy's work is based on a variety of subjects, including classic shirts, lyrics of supporters' chants down the years, and sketches of players from the past through to the present.

It was that latter idea that immediately gave the story a "Saints flavour", as we of course have our very own painted electric box on Emmet Road, featuring our past great Saint Paul McGrath. Ruairi Kavanagh, the editor of this esteemed publication, tells me that our McGrath mural was created as part of a Dublin City Council initiative, although at the time of writing we have not actually been able to unearth who the artist was that carried out the work.

It's been there a while, though, as we know, and as well as being a familiar feature on the landscape, is a nice tribute to one of the most famous ever Saints to don the red and white jersey. However, unlike our box which was well received by everyone, Andy McVeigh had to overcome some initial local hostility as he attempted to brighten up the Elland Road area in Leeds.

Andy's artistic efforts remained pretty much under the radar as far as the city's population were concerned, apart from fans of the football club, until September of last year when 14 of his murals in the vicinity of the ground were covered in black paint over the course of one night. One of the murals targeted was dedicated to the late Gary Speed, and was vandalised on the eve of his 50th birthday.

36

A group calling themselves "Leeds Residents Against Graffiti" e-mailed the Yorkshire Evening Post to claim responsibility for the attacks, stating that their objective was to “represent the 90% of the citizens of Leeds who are not obsessed with Leeds United”. The message also stated their aim was to cover up all of the football-themed electric boxes across the city.

However, there is a happy end to the story as Leeds United and the local community immediately showed their support for Andy and his work, with fundraising undertaken to buy him some paint supplies and to also allow him to take a few days off to repair the damage.

Leeds United gave him complimentary tickets for his efforts and, together with Leeds City Council and Virgin Media, they commissioned him to officially decorate the remaining electric boxes surrounding Elland Road, which he hadn't yet got to. The good news is that with the Council giving their blessing to Andy’s work, they are now official commissions and any further vandalism to deface them will be a criminal offence.

The electric boxes on the approaches to the ground have not only been embraced by the Leeds United supporters, but have become part of the whole matchday experience, with many fans tapping the boxes for luck before games, and no doubt a few selfies are snapped at each game too.

Andy is now working on creating more Leeds Unitedthemed murals around the city and has been extremely heartened by the positive reaction of fans and residents alike. Quoted in the article, he said: “Every time I’m out painting now, I get loads of

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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voluntary groups could get involved alongside the clubs, supporters and local residents, and you could have a mix of more complex projects alongside more simple ones.

Easy wins like planting flowers in flower boxes, or painting lamp posts or bollards near the ground in club colours could sit alongside more complex street art projects to brighten up bare surfaces.

Once they are in place, you could develop apps to guide fans to the features, with plenty of photo opportunities available.

In some ways, I guess we are trailblazers here at Richmond Park for this sort of idea, as we have some eye-catching features already in place, with the big doors on Emmet Road displaying the club crest and the murals on the walls as you approach the turnstiles. More recently, we have also had the inside of the ground brightened up by the work of the KRIB Youth Diversion Project's new mural, with support from Foroige and Write Type Graffiti. people beeping horns, shouting encouragement, giving me the Leeds salute. Tons of people stop for a chat. The reaction was genuinely overwhelming.

Sounds cheesy but it’s true. It’s like the whole city came together. Even people who lived in that area and don’t like football said they loved the art and were disgusted by it being vandalised.”

For sure, it’s a good ending to a nice feel good story, but one that gives food for thought too. If simply painting murals on something as simple as electric boxes near a football ground can inspire such goodwill in a big city like Leeds, what else could be done in the environs of a football ground to both publicise the local club and brighten up the area?

At a time when we all need a bit of feel good factor more than ever, what a great initiative it would be to get people involved in sprucing up the environment either where they live or visit regularly when supporting their team. Local businesses and

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

But getting back to the theme of decorated electric boxes and using Andy McVeigh's story as our inspiration, I reckon it's time to add another to our own collection that currently only comprises one Paul McGrath exhibit. If one part of a city like Leeds can become known for its colourful electric boxes, why not Inchicore and the surrounding areas? If you live in these parts, have a look round to identify potentially suitable boxes for decoration. That's the first step.

And here's a thought to finish with - once we find our location and get the artist in place and ready to start work, who will be the next great Saint from the past that we should immortalise on there?

Let the debate begin...

Ian Templeman

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Player Apps & Goals 2020 Up to and including Finn Harps game on Monday 10 August.

26 Brendan Clarke

GK

LEAGUE

TOTAL

FAI CUP

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

7

0

0

0

7

0

2 Rory Feely

D

6

0

1

0

7

0

3 Ian Bermingham (C)

D

4+1s

0

1

0

5+1s

0

4 Dan Ward

D

3+1s

0

1

0

4+1s

0

5 Lee Desmond

D

6+1s

0

0

0

6+1s

0

6 Jamie Lennon

M

4+2s

0

1

0

5+2s

0

7 Robbie Benson

M

5

1

1s

0

5+1s

1

8 Darragh Markey

M

1+3s

0

1

0

2+3s

0

9 Martin Rennie

F

2+4s

0

1

0

3+4s

0

12 Georgie Kelly

F

2

2

1s

0

2+1s

2

14 Luke McNally

D

7

0

1

0

8

0

15 Billy King

M

4

1

0

0

4

1

16 Jay McClelland

M

4+2s

0

1

0

5+2s

0

17 Simon Madden

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

19 Chris Forrester

M

5+2s

1

1s

0

5+3s

1

20 Shane Griffin

D

4

0

0

0

4

0

22 James Doona

F

1+3s

0

1s

0

1+4s

0

23 Jordan Gibson

F

2+1s

0

1

0

3+1s

0

24 David Titov

D

3

0

1

0

4

0

25 Conor Kearns

GK

0

0

1

0

1

0

27 Cian Hughes

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

28 Glory Nzingo

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

30 Paul Cleary

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

32 Cian Kelly

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

34 Ben McCormack

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

35 Darragh Burns

M

1s

0

0

0

1s

0

37 Daniel Dobbin

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

38 Kian Corbally

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

5 Ollie Younger

D

10 Ronan Hale

F

11 Dean Clarke

F

19 Jake Walker

F

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

39

14Aug20-Shamrock Rovers-FINAL_A5 14/08/2020 13:43 Page 40

2020 Fixtures, Results & Lineouts Date

Opposition

Venue Comp Score

Fri 14 Feb

Waterford

Home Series 1

0-1

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

D Clarke

Lennon

Be

Fri 21 Feb

Sligo Rovers

Away Series 2

2-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

Younger

Benson

Fo

Fri 28 Feb

Shelbourne

Away Series 4

0-1

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

McClelland

Markey

Fo

Fri 06 Mar

Cork City

Home Series 5

1-0

Clarke

Younger

Griffin

Desmond

McNally

McClelland

Ward

Fo

Fri 31 July

Dundalk

Away Series 6

1-1

Clarke

Feely

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

Titov

Ward

Fo

Mon 03 Aug Derry City

Home Series 3

0-1

Clarke

Feely

McNally

Desmond

Titov

Lennon

Ward

G

Fri 07 Aug

Finn Harps

Home Series 7

2-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Lennon

Forrester

G

Mon 10 Aug Finn Harps

Away FAI Cup

0-1

Kearns

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Lennon

Markey

W

Sun 16 Aug Shamrock Rovers Home Series 8

0-1

Sat 22 Aug Bohemians

Away Series 9

0-1

Fri 04 Sep

Away Series 10

0-1

Sun 12 Sep Sligo Rovers

Home Series 11

0-1

Fri 18 Sep

Derry City

Away Series 12

0-1

Fri 25 Sep

Shelbourne

Home Series 13

0-1

First XI

Premier League Table Club

Waterford

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1 Shamrock Rvs 7

7

0

0 20

6

14

18

2 Bohemians

7

5

0

2

9

4

5

15

3 Dundalk

7

4

1

2

14

7

7

13

4 St Pat’s Ath

7

3

1

3

6

5

1

10

5 Waterford

6

3

1

2

4

5

-1

10

6 Shelbourne

7

3

0

4

5

7

-2

9

Fri 02 Oct

Cork City

Away Series 14

0-1

Fri 09 Oct

Dundalk

Home Series 15

0-1 0-1

7 Derry City

7

2

1

4

7

8

-1

7

Fri 16 Oct

Finn Harps

Away Series 16

0-1

8 Sligo Rovers

6

2

0

4

6

9

-3

6

Fri 23 Oct

Shamrock Rovers

Away Series 17

0-1

9 Finn Harps

7

1

1

5

3

12

-9

4

Fri 30 Oct

Bohemians

Home Series 18

0-1

10 Cork City

7

1

1

5

1

12 -11

4

Includes Games on Sun 09 August

Quiz Time!

Extra.ie FAI Cup Dates W/E Ending 30 Aug

2nd Round

W/E Ending 08 Nov

Quarter-Finals

W/E Ending 22 Nov

Semi-Finals

Sunday 29 Nov

Final

40

Questions on Page 35

1

Roberto Martinez, Rafael Benitez and Pep Guardiola.

6 Scott Parker, Claudio Ranieri and Slavisa Jokanovic.

2

Bohemians.

7

3

Alan Kelly.

8 Alan Shearer.

Iker Casillas.

4 Sunderland.

9 Switzerland

5 Chris Waddle.

10 Quinton Fortune.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

14Aug20-Shamrock Rovers-FINAL_A5 14/08/2020 13:43 Page 41

League

FAI Cup

1st Sub 2nd Sub 3rd Sub

4th Sub

5th Sub

1 Goals Scored P Penalty OG Own Goal

* Own Goal For

Yellow Card

Red Card

Substitutes Benson

King

McClelland

Rennie

Forrester

Hale

Doona

Ward

Younger

Walker

Kearns

King

Hale

Doona

D Clarke

Lennon

Rennie

Ward

Griffin

McClelland

Kearns

Forrester

King

D Clarke

Hale

Doona

Rennie

Walker

Ward

Lennon

Griffin

Kearns

Forrester

King

1

Rennie

D Clarke

Lennon

Doona

Bermingham

Markey

Hale

Walker

Kearns

Forrester

Benson

1

Griffin

Gibson

McClelland

Rennie

Markey

Bermingham

McCormack

Burns

Kearns

Griffin

Benson

Kelly

Gibson

McClelland

Forrester

Rennie

Markey

Burns

Burns

Kearns

Griffin

Benson

Kelly

McClelland

Ward

Desmond

Markey

Gibson

Rennie

Burns

Kearns

Ward

Gibson

Rennie

McClelland

Kelly

Forrester

Benson

Doona

Cleary

Burns

Clarke

Forrester

1

1

2

Shamrock Rovers v St Pats - Fri 23 April 1999

Starting XI Back Row - Left to Right: Martin Russell, Stephen McGuinness, Colin Hawkins, Trevor Wood, Paul Osam, Packie Lynch.

Front Row - Left to Right: Jeff Clarke, Trevor Crolly, Thomas Morgan, Trevor Molloy, Martin Reilly.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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