The Saint (Vol. 32 No. 5)

11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:06 Page 1

Irish Programme Club

Programme of the Year

2019 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 05 •

St Patrick’s Athletic Sligo Rovers Saturday 12 September • 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 Shligigh go Phairc Richmond, an tráthnóna seo.

Welcome We are pleased to welcome the management, players and supporters of Sligo Rovers Football Club to Richmond Park this afternoon.

Sligo Rovers Liam Buckley

Asst Manager: John Russell 1 Edward McGinty

GK o

2 Rory Feely

D

o

2 Lewis Banks

D

o

3 Ian Bermingham (C)

D

o

3 Regan Donelon

D

o

4 Dan Ward

D

o

4 Danny Kane

D

o

5 Lee Desmond

D

o

5 Kyle Callan-McFadden D

o

6 Jamie Lennon

M

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6 Johnny Dunleavy

D

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7 Robbie Benson

M

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7 Ronan Coughlan

F

o

8 Darragh Markey

M

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8 Alex Cooper

D

o

9 Martin Rennie

F

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9 Ryan De Vries

F

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12 Georgie Kelly

F

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10 Darragh Noone

M

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14 Luke McNally

D

o

11 Jesse Devers

F

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15 Billy King

M

o

12 Mark Byrne

M

o

16 Jay McClelland

M

o

14 Will Seymore

M

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17 Simon Madden

D

o

16 Luke McNicholas

GK o

19 Chris Forrester

M

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17 Teemu Penninkangas D

o

20 Shane Griffin

D

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18 John Russell

M

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22 James Doona

F

o

19 Ronan Murray

F

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23 Jordan Gibson

M

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20 Darren Collins

F

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24 David Titov

D

o

21 John Mahon

G

o

25 Conor Kearns

GK o

22 David Cawley

M

o

27 Cian Hughes

M

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23 Scott Lynch

D

o

28 Glory Nzingo

M

o

24 Kailin Barlow

M

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30 Paul Cleary

D

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25 Niall Morahan

M

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32 Cian Kelly

D

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26 Garry Buckley

M

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34 Ben McCormack

M

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27 Darragh Reilly

D

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35 Darragh Burns

M

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28 Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe F

o

37 Daniel Dobbin

D

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29 Rossa McAllister

M

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38 Kian Corbally

M

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30 James Robinson

GK o

32 Sigitas Olberkis

D

/stpatsfc

o

stpatsfc /stpatsfc

Match Officials

/stpatsfctv

Referee Derek Tomney

info@stpatsfc.com stpatsfc.com

2

Half-Time

Assistant 1 Wayne McDonnell Full-Time

Assistant 2 Rob Clarke

4th Official Rob Hennessy

MOTM

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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Editorial Ruairi Kavanagh @stpatsprogramme

Good evening...

Welcome to this evening's reunion with Liam Buckey and Sligo Rovers, with our former manager always so welcome to Dublin 8. It has been a tough few weeks for Saints fans, with our team desperately in need of a win in a tightly packed league table. Let's hope we get a little luck, and a few goals, to get us over the line this evening.

This is our third digital edition and thanks for all the kind messages so far, it is appreciated by me and Joe and the rest of the programme team. On a sadder note, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our condolences to long time programme statistics contributor John Owens, whose mother passed away earlier this week. John has been a friend of the programme, and an expert on all things related to the club, for many years and our thoughts are with him at this difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Enjoy the game, Ruairi

We wish to extend our condolences to the Lehane Family after the passing of Tom, a long time supporter. Our thoughts are with Tom’s wife Liz and children Colm, Shauna & Aisling at this time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

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. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO 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

In normal circumstances I would begin these notes by welcoming you to Richmond Park and it's very frustrating for all of us that it still remains impossible to do so.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB 125 Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, Ireland Tel: +353 1 454 6332 Fax: +353 1 454 6211

It's our hope and indeed expectation that we will soon move towards being able to have at least partially-occupied stands and terraces but these decisions will be made by the Government and of course we fully respect the difficult balance they have to find between restricting the spread of the virus and enabling the economic and social life of the country to return to some extent.

the more disappointing and frustrating.

The pattern was identical in both games - I felt we were the dominant team in the early exchanges until the opposition got a very fortunate opening goal, gifted by the weather in the Bohs game and by a defensive mixup in Waterford. From then on it was an uphill struggle in each game and one could see the confidence sapping from our players.

At least it is possible to view all of our games through the WatchLOI streaming service and I have been very happy with the quality of these broadcasts. If you've downloaded this Programme you're more than likely availing of the streaming service, but if you aren't I'd really encourage you to subscribe for the remainder of the season. It's excellent value and also provides some income for the clubs which is, as you can imagine, more important than ever.

Our results need to improve and everyone at the club knows this only too well. In this strangest of seasons, a win or two can take us into the battle for Europe, a loss or two into the relegation scrap. Only one of those is acceptable.

Our last home game saw us become the first team to take points off the league leaders. It was a performance of impressive commitment and determination, all the more so considering that we had to play most of the second half with ten men. It showed what we are capable of, which made the following two away games all

This afternoon we welcome Sligo Rovers who have had a fine run of form since the season recommenced. It's always good to welcome Liam Buckley back to Richmond Park, but there's no room for sentiment - we need three points from this game and are determined to get them. Let's hope that it's an enjoyable game but one with the desired result.

Tom O'Mahony President St Patrick's Athletic FC

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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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2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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The Dugout Stephen O’Donnell and Alan Mathews

I would like to welcome Liam

positive frame of mind. Like

I have great faith in this group of

Buckley, his players, backroom

the previous week against

players. They are young and eager

staff and everyone connected

Bohemians, we started stronger

to learn, and they are well

with Sligo Rovers that has made

than our opponents. Much the

capable of putting in a strong

the journey to Richmond Park for

stronger, in fact. The opening goal

performance against the strongest

this evening's SSE Airtricity

was desperately disappointing

teams in this league. We have

Premier League match.

from our point of view but we

already seen them do just that

remained positive. Sometimes

against the likes of Shamrock

It feels like quite some time since

people can read a lot into a

Rovers and Dundalk, and now it is

our last home match, and indeed

scoreline. Admittedly, the 3-0

a case of finding that all-

it has been. Just one day short of

reversal looks bad on paper.

important consistency. Of course,

four weeks, to be exact. On that

There is no getting away from

a bit of good luck wouldn't go

occasion, Shamrock Rovers were

that. But it doesn’t tell the whole

amiss either. The harder you work,

the visitors and we dug out a

story of the game.

the luckier you become and

decent draw. Of course, you want

hopefully that will all come

to win your home matches, but

It was unlucky that we found

together today, because the

bearing in mind Shamrock Rovers'

ourselves 2-0 down. It left us in a

players have been working hard.

100 percent record going into that

situation where we had little

game, and the fact that we had to

option but to gamble. That meant

Last, but by no means least, a

play most of the second half with

taking a slightly looser, more

special word for the fans. It is

ten men, it was a hard-earned

attacking approach in an attempt

never lost on us how difficult this

point that I was happy with.

to salvage something. We

period of time has been for you

subsequently conceded a third

all. I am acutely aware of just how

Since then, we have had two

goal, but there can be no regrets

important going to see Pat’s play

disappointing outings against

about taking measures aimed

is to our fans, from a social

Bohemians and Waterford. Against

towards getting us back into the

perspective and even from a

Bohemians, who are of course a

game.

mental-health perspective.

team doing well, we started the

Hopefully, the grounds will be

stronger of the two teams and I

Today's match is tricky for the

open before too long. In the

was very pleased with how we

simple reason that Sligo Rovers

meantime, we are determined to

performed in those early stages.

have been so impressive since the

make you proud. There is no

Against the run of play, Bohs took

league restarted six weeks ago.

better way to prove that by

the lead with what can best be

This represents a great

leaving it all out on the pitch

described as a freak goal.

opportunity for the players I

against Sligo Rovers this evening.

select to go out and lay down a We weren’t at our best thereafter,

marker. Despite the disappointing

Enjoy the game,

but the players dusted themselves

results of the past two games, the

Stephen O’Donnell

down and entered last weekend’s

application and commitment at

match against Waterford in a

training has been first class.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO 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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Oh My Word!

Ronan O’Flaherty @ronanoflaherty

Another home game, another empty stadium, more echoes of silence.

The longer this remains the norm, the more tempted we will become to perceive live football as a different kind of spectacle – a television sport.

For many, football is and always has been a television sport. To those of such a persuasion, watching a match is just one element that makes for an enjoyable couple of hours – the others being a steady flow of Coors Light, a barstool and an acceptance from those within close proximity that roaring at human beings through a projector screen is not in the least bit strange. Some people take umbrage against such behaviour. Truth be told, there is nothing wrong with being a barstool fan and quite a bit wrong with taking offence to it.

For those who have sampled the addictive sights, sounds and smells of live football, the pub/sittingroom experience will never come close to cutting it.

However, an uneasy truth of the pandemic is that it has made barstool spectators of us all. Forced away from the terraces en masse, there has been no other option but to appease ourselves with a viewing experience that can only be made possible with a decent WiFi connection. Even then, there are no guarantees.

This is where we are now: the "new norm", if it can even be considered new anymore. It is where we have been for the past six weeks, since the League returned, and it is where we will continue to be for the next six weeks, and probably beyond.

Perhaps we should just be thankful for the streaming service that allows us to watch League of Ireland games. It’s not that long since the FAI Cup final was the one and only televised game of the season. In that context, the offering from WatchLOI represents an enormous leap forward. And yet, it brings little in the way of enjoyment to this punter.

It feels wrong to be dismissive of a streaming service that is showing so much Irish football. The price is better than reasonable, too. However, the fact remains that the vast majority of people tuning in – sorry, logging on – would be at the games but for the pandemic. In short, a proportion of us have no

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

11/02/2020 12:14

desire to stream all of these games. That we do is merely an extreme example of "needs must".

A bugbear of the streamed games is the presence of a single commentator. Admittedly, until now I had failed to truly appreciate the importance of a cocommentator. That’s not to say that there was no way to differentiate a good one from a bad one. But the complete absence of another voice can lead to long and winding monologues that are only interrupted by a noteworthy moment in the game.

The company behind the streaming service is better known for their similar offering to GAA enthusiasts.

An emailed receipt for the purchase of the live transmission of Bohs-v-Pat's at Dalymount Park three weeks ago offered an unexpected insight into this organisation. Alongside confirmation that payment had been received were basic details relating to the game, such as "Date & Time", "Venue" and, wait for it, the "Throw-in" time.

Golf is the original television sport. As a live, in-theflesh experience, it doesn't offer a lot for those intent on seeing as much of the action as possible.

Television, with its ability to quickly and seamlessly jump from golfer to golfer, shot to shot, added a new dimension to the sport. The likes of Sky Sports, with their seemingly endless array of cameras angles, then improved this concept beyond all recognition.

Golf has suffered least – from the perspective of an armchair spectator – during the Covid era. The presence of fans on the course was never crucial to the TV-viewing experience. Their absence is still felt, but not harshly. Football, on the other hand, has suffered in a terrible way. Across the world, goals have been scored, players have celebrated and trophies have been lifted. Liverpool's Premier League title triumph excluded, it has all been flat without the presence of fans. Their return to the stands and terraces can't come soon enough.

Some people say football without fans is nothing.

They are almost right.

Ronan O'Flaherty

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Dodge’s Data

@seidodge

League Record v Sligo Rovers HOME GAMES

W

D

AWAY GAMES

L

H

A

TOTAL GAMES

15

43

73

27

75

15

25 70

148

38

23 GOALS

GOALS

145

76

103

40

GOALS

110

248

186

Last 10 Games v Sligo Rovers 05/08/17

21/04/18

15/05/18

15/06/18

15/09/18

22/02/19

19/04/19

08/06/19

16/08/19

21/02/20

Showgrounds

Showgrounds

Richmond Park

Richmond Park

Showgrounds

Showgrounds

Richmond Park

Showgrounds

Richmond Park

Showgrounds

2-1

1-0

2-1

2-1

2-0

2-0 1-1

0-0

W

1-1

D

0-3 League

League

League

League

L League

League

League

League

League

League

On behalf of the team at The Saint, and all at the football club, we would like to extend condolences to our statistics contributor John Owens and his family on the recent passing of his mother Breda Owens, who was also a strong supporter of St Patrick's Athletic.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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Opposition Watch James Fenton

HOW IS 2020 GOING SO FAR?

OUR RECENT RECORD AGAINST THE VISITORS

It's very much a season of two halves for the Bit O' Red so far. Having lost their opening four league games (including a 2-0 home defeat to Saints), the coronavirus lockdown gave Liam Buckley's men a chance to start afresh. Since the league's return, Sligo have won five games out of six including a 3-1 victory over Finn Harps on Monday of this week. At the time of writing, tonight's opposition lie third in the table and have progressed to the quarter-final of the FAI Cup.

As already mentioned, we defeated Sligo 2-0 at The Showgrounds in our second game of this season. We also did well against them last season, notching three wins and one draw against tonight's opponents. In fact, Saints haven't lost to Sligo in the league since June 2018. Let's hope that impressive record continues this evening.

ONE TO WATCH Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe finished as top scorer in the Premier Division last season with a total of 14 goals during a loan spell at Derry City. After a brief spell in Israel earlier this year, he signed for Sligo Rovers in July, a move that was seen as quite a coup for the club.

The striker got off the mark for his new side in the recent 3-1 over Dundalk and his killer instinct is sure to provide a stern test for the Saints defence this evening.

IN THE DUGOUT A man who will need no introduction to St. Patrick's Athletic fans. A former player in Inchicore, Liam Buckley led us to the league title in the 1998/99 season. He returned to Richmond Park for a second spell in 2011 and added another league title, an FAI Cup and two League Cups before departing in 2018. He then took over at The Showgrounds and led Sligo to seventh place in the Premier Division last season.

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DID YOU KNOW? Current Everton and Ireland captain Seamus Coleman began his career at The Showgrounds but he isn't the only legendary Toffee to line out for Sligo Rovers. Dixie Dean, the all-time leading goalscorer for the Goodison Park outfit, scored 11 goals in 11 appearances for Sligo in 1939, including a goal in the 1-1 FAI Cup Final draw with Shelbourne, before Shels went on to win the replay 1-0.

Dean's brief spell at Sligo created a huge buzz among supporters, with a large crowd turning out at Sligo Railway Station to give him a hero's welcome.

Quite fitting for a man who still holds the record for the most goals in an English top flight season, hitting the net 60 times for Everton throughout 1927-28.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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Sligo Rovers Honours LEAGUE OF IRELAND: 3 1936–37, 1976–77, 2012.

FAI CUP: 5 1982-83, 1993–94, 2010, 2011, 2013.

LEAGUE CUP: 2 1997-98, 2010.

SETANTA SPORTS CUP: 1 2014.

DUBLIN CITY CUP: 1 1936–37.

LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST DIVISION: 2 1993-94, 2005.

LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST SHIELD: 1 1993-94.

LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: 1 1933-34.

Records RECORD VICTORY: 9-0 v Dolphin, Home, 20 December 1936.

RECORD DEFEAT: 0-9 v Waterford, Away, 25 February 1968.

Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe

MOST LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 431 - Tony Fagan, 1967-87.

MOST LEAGUE GOALS IN A SEASON: 20 - Eoin Doyle, 2011.

RECORD LEAGUE GOALSCORER: 85 - Johnny Armstrong, 1951-62 & 1963-64.

The Showgrounds Rovers have played their entire history at the Showgrounds, located in the Maugheraboy area of Sligo town. They are one of very few League of Ireland clubs never to have changed grounds. The Showgrounds, one of the oldest grounds in the country, takes its name from the annual show held at the grounds by the County Sligo Agricultural Society. It is owned by the people of Sligo and cannot be sold for use for any purpose other than

Liam Buckley 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

sport and leisure.

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Stephen Bennett @stebenn15

League of Ireland - Irish Press - Monday 13 Feb 1961

ST PATRICK'S ATH 7 SLIGO ROVERS 1 JOHNNY McGEEHAN, St. Patrick's Athletic's bustling centreforward, doesn't have to play the full 90 minutes to win matches for his team. He showed this at Richmond Park yesterday when, though only on the field for 64 minutes, he scored the two goals that crushed Sligo Rovers' never too serious challenge.

After Peyton had put Pats moving around but he got into the lead after 17 minutes through a penalty, McGeehan placed his side firmly on the road to success four minutes later when he drew Sligo 'keeper Donaghy and flicked the ball over his head for a grand goal.

But in doing so, the St. Pat's leader collided with the Sligoman, twisted his right knee and was off the field receiving treatment until two minutes after half-time.

The "ten men" held their own without adding to the score until McGeehan returned then things began cracking again and after five minutes the centre forward, now on the wing, got his head to a Whelan cross and victory was assured.

Peter Farrell, on extreme left, watches anxiously as his goalkeeper, Donaghy, makes a save for Sligo Rovers in the League game with St. Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.

In white shirt is Whelan of St. Patricks.

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Munns (Sligo Rovers), right, clears under pressure from O’Rourke (St. Patrick’s Athletic) in the League game at Richmond Park.

Sligo 'Gave Up the Ghost'

Peyton Scored From Spot-Kick

McGeehan could have gone and rested his heavily bandaged knee for after that the goalslide began and it was only a matter of how many Pats could crack in before the end. Sligo never looked the team that would take these two vital points from the Inchicore side.

Though' they shaped reasonably well in _tbo opening half, they never really settled down and when McGeehan got Pats third, Sligo gave it up as a lost cause. Their policy of relying on such as Peter Farrell and Mick Sweeney is going to get them nowhere. Farrell did a lot of moving around but he got absolutely nowhere. Sweeney, too, put in a lot of effort but he could seldom escape the close attentions of Tommy Dunne, who tiad they been playing against stronger opposition could have put his side in serious trouble with his habit of back passing to his goalkeeper.

Pats opened the-scoring in the 17tih minute when, after Bradley pulled back Curtin in the . penalty area, .

Peyton scored, from the "spot." Four minutes later McGeehan, from a Wlhelan pass, flicked the ball over . the advancing goalkeeper's head to the net and was injured in a collision with Donaghy. Five minutes after half-time, McGeehan headed goal number three and two minutes later Curtin scored. Curtin added his second in the eight minute and eleven minutes later O'Bourke, took a pass from Curtin and scored with a grand shot. In the 30th minute Farrell brought down Peyton and the winger made no mistake again from the spot. Twelve minutes from the end Bradley got a consolation goal for Sligo.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC Lowry; White. Dunne Clarke, McCarthy, O'Reilly; Curtin, O'Rourke, McGeehan, Whelan, Peyton.

SLIGO ROVERS Donaghy; Munns, W. Bradley; Farrell, McCue, Crawford; Sweeney, D. Bradley. Burnside, McKeever, Armstrong.

REFEREE - W. Kennedy.

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Red & White Wonderland Favourite Manager Liam Buckley

In my opinion Liam Buckley. He was the manager that led the club to everything that there is to win.

His style of football when we won the league was on another level and to top it all off was the Cup win the year after in 2014.

Favourite Kit HOME

2013 League Shirt

AWAY Patsalona Shirt FAI Cup 2014

First game My first game was sometime in the summer of 2004.

Favourite gOal Chris Forrester

My favourite player was Keith Fahey. He was an amazing midfielder in the league and had loads of experience at every level.

He was the player who can score create and score important goals.

Favourite GAme Olimps away

In my opinion my favourite goal has to be Chris Forrester’s cheeky chip against Shamrock Rovers.

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Favourite Player Keith Fahey

In my opinion my favourite game was on the 17th of July 2008, JFK Olimps Riga in Latvia in the UEFA Cup. I went with this because of the game itself and how important it was for the club as Ryan Guy scored the only goal of and he gave me a nice birthday present!

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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John Paul Moore

Occupation Irish Times From Rathcoole Where I stand The Main Stand. Seems a long time ago now!

Clarke

O’Brien

Bermingham Hoare

Kenna

Fahey

Brennan

Guy

Byrne

Fagan

BRENDAN CLARKE Clarkey is a club servant with loads of experience throughout the league and even on the european stage. He was one of the most important players in playing a big helping hand for the team when he helped win the league in 2013. In that season Clarkey kept the most cleansheets throughout the season.

IAN BERMINGHAM ‘Bermo’ a local lad that played every minute of the season in 2013, scoring in a few goals throughout his time at Pats.

‘Bermo’ in my opinion is the most consistent left back in the league for years.

CONOR KENNA Conor was the captain of the team that won the league in 2013. His experience on the field was exceptional.

SEAN HOARE Sean was part of the team that won the FAI Cup final in 2014. He has gone and racked up a load of experience on the european stage with Dundalk after having a few games with Pats at that level. He also scored a few goals for the Saints!

Flood

GER O’BRIEN Captain of the team that won the holy grail in 2014 to end the long wait for the FAI Cup. In my opinion Ger was the best right back in the league during his playing time. He had loads of experience throughout the league and on the European stage.

CONAN BYRNE What is there to be said about Conan!

Scoring 4 against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght enough said. A Saints legend and goalscoring, and creating, machine.

KILLIAN BRENNAN A league legend who won everything that there is to win. He was a leader on the pitch and off it, helped us win important games with his goals from set pieces.

KEITH FAHEY Name speaks for itself. An amazing midfielder all round scoring some wonderful goals from anywhere on the pitch. His goal from the halfway line against Bohs was unbelievable but it’s just short by of a shot by a certain Mr. Byrne. Keith helped us in winning the holy grail in 2014 and was a great servant for the Saints.

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RYAN GUY In my opinion Ryan was an important player who played a huge role for the club.. He became the first player to score an away goal for the Saints against JFK Olimps Riga in Latvia on the 17th of July 2008. He also got to play against Manchester United in the first game at the Aviva Stadium where he did his famous ‘Somersault’ throw-in, in front of Alex Ferguson. He always gave 100% when he pulled on the Saints shirt.

ANTHONY ‘BISTO’ FLOOD Anthony played in a helping hand with winning the league by scoring loads of goals including one against Sligo Rovers to clinch the title before running over to lift Jack Cummins up and celebrate with him and the rest of the team. He had a good partnership with Christy Fagan by scoring goals throughout the season. In my opinion an all round striker.

CHRISTY FAGAN Christy played an important role in helping us win the holy grail in 2014 by scoring both of the goals. He had a great partnership with Anto ‘Bisto’ Flood by scoring goals throughout the 2013 season.

Throughout his time at the club he won everything that there is to win.

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Pensive Points Jimmy Edwards @jimmyedwards41

Good Evening All, Welcome to Saint’s legend Liam Buckley and all at Sligo Rovers. Liam needs no introduction to Pats fans, as he is loved here in Inchicore for all he achieved in his three spells with the club as player, assistant manager and then manager. I’d also like to give a special welcome and mention to my old friend Davy Campbell and also to John Russell, two former league winners with Pats.

While I’m sure everyone is bitterly disappointed with our recent results I think it’s important that we look at the performances in those games because I feel we could have and probably should have a few extra points on the board but lady luck has not been good to us. The last home game here was back on 16th August v Shamrock Rovers when we ground out a 0-0 draw, and while we will all agree that Rovers were the better side on the night, even with 11 v 11 it was a brilliant point considering we had to play with 10 men from the 50th minute onwards.

I think we were all scratching our heads with Stephen's substitutions to play without a striker and pack the midfield after the sending off but in all fairness to him it was tactically brilliant because it stopped Rovers from playing through us and forced them to have to play wide and to put crosses in that our defenders dealt comfortably with. That was a very satisfactory result and probably one we would have took at 11 v 11 considering the form Rovers are in at the moment.

The following week we had Boh’s away in Dalymount and I felt we started the better team and then we

gave away a goal that definitely had a big slice of luck, when a routine cross from Breslin into our box wickedly changed direction and speed and was blown into the top corner. As Boh’s were playing with the the strong wind in the first half I feel their second goal was also wind assisted as it curled in at pace, and Andre Wright only had to connect with it because the pace was already on the ball coming in from the corner.

I was more disappointed with our reaction after going two goals down because it looked like a lot heads dropped, and some players weren’t showing for the ball or being creative enough when they did have it. I don’t want to sound like I’m moaning but the wind definitely played a big part in the overall result, because Boh’s had it behind their backs for the first half and as lady luck would have it the wind died down at half time and only really started blowing in the last 10 or 15 minutes again.

We then played Waterford away last weekend and again right up until their first goal in the 24th minute we were by far the better team. We were playing some lovely football and creating chances and it only looked like a matter of time before we would score and we were restricting Waterford to playing on the break because most of the first 24 minutes was played in Waterford’s half. Their first goal came from a break away but it was a gift of a goal. I have only seen it the once but I know it was a bad mix up defensively on our behalf that led to Ali Coote poking the ball in. We also gave away a similar type of goal against Finn Harps away in

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

the cup a few weeks back. The second goal came from a corner 4 minutes later and for the second week running and it was another poor goal to concede as it was met at the back post by an unmarked player who headed it back across our goal and John Martin was there to smash it in. Their third goal came late in the second half in the 80th minute when Waterford hit us on the break with Coote crossing low into the box and Michael O’Connor unopposed tapping home.

It’s clear to see that Stephen wants the players to play a good attractive style of football and pressing game when they can, and to show a bit of grit and determination to grind out a result when we have to. So it has been disappointing to see heads dropping as soon as we concede a goal. We haven’t scored a goal in the last 3 games but we have created some chances in all three and if we had of taken some of those chances and going 1 up I think we would be sitting further up the table with a few more points than we currently have. While none of us are happy about the points return, or where we are sitting in the table, it’s no time to panic because although we are 8th in a ten team league and only 3 ahead of Cork and 4 ahead of Finn Harps we are also only 3 points off of Dundalk who are 3rd (at the time of writing this article) . A little luck would be nice because who knows where an unbeaten run between now and the end of the season can take us.

Enjoy the game, Up the Saints!

Jimmy

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WWW.MIG.IE

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The 1960’s Dermot Looney @dlooney

The Rise Halted Now back installed at Richmond Park, Pat’s began the decade successfully. 1960-61 saw the Saints finish as runners-up in the League, finishing just a point behind Drumcondra. In April, Pat’s lifted the FAI Cup for the second time with a 2-1 win over the League champs in the final at Dalymount Park thanks to goals from White and Peyton.

Little did the celebrating fans know that this would be the last major trophy for the club for some 29 years. Nor did they realise that this would be the beginning of an FAI Cup hoodoo which lasted an extraordinary 53 years.

That Cup win enabled the Saints to enter European football for the first time in 1961-62, becoming Ireland’s first ever entrants in the European Cup Winners Cup with a first round draw against Dunfermline Athletic of Scotland. The first leg in East Den Park saw a 4-1 defeat, with Ginger O’Rourke netting Pat’s historic first goal in Europe.

Dunfermline won the return leg at Dalymount on a 4-0 scoreline.

Mid-table mediocrity loomed for the Saints during the rest of the sixties despite efforts of players such as Tommy Dunne, who spent ten years at the club from the mid-fifties, Ronnie Whelan Snr, Noel Bates and brothers Noel and Johnny Campbell. Noel Campbell scored 26 goals in 87 League appearances for the Saints, earning a full Irish cap at the end of his time at the club and a transfer to Fortuna Köln, where he spent eight seasons.

A rare final appearance took place in the Leinster Senior Cup in 1963-64, in which the Saints were defeated by Shamrock Rovers. In 1966-67 Pat’s reached a fourth FAI Cup final, but were beaten by Shamrock Rovers on a 3-2 scoreline. The Saints also finished as runners-up in the Shield that season.

Pat’s second European encounter was against Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1967-68 Inter-Cities Fair Cup, a precursor to the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League). The tie finished in a 9-4 aggregate win for the French side, with Pat’s

netting one at home in Dalymount and three away in the Stade Municipal.

The role of manager became more and more important as the sixties rolled on, with the old Selection Committees consigned to the dustbin of history. There was a hint of the League of Ireland managerial merry-go-round even then.

Pat’s bosses during the decade included player-manager Shay Keogh, once of the famous Coad’s Colts Shamrock Rovers side, Englishman George Lax, who had twice managed Bohemians and Gerry Doyle, who had a long association with Shelbourne.

Peter Farrell, a playing star of the 40’s and 50’s with Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Ireland took charge in September 1967 but was gone by March. His successor was Scotsman John Colrain, famously associated with Glentoran and the Detroit Cougars experiment, who was player manager until 1971.

Honours FAI Cup (1960-61)

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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Community Dave Morrissey @dave_pats

Youth Project Tournament at Richmond Park

St Patrick’s Athletic FC Bluebell Community Camp

St Patrick’s Athletic recently ran two community football events in Inchicore and Bluebell over the past few weeks.

It was also brilliant to be able to run a Community Football Camp in Bluebell recently. A total of twenty-six young people (in two pods of thirteen) took part in the twoday camp, ran by St Pat’s academy coaches Niall Cully and Sean Gahan. The camp was organised in conjunction with Dublin City Council staff at the all-weather football facility in Bluebell and went excellently.

Thanks to club sponsors Flomax (and Michael O’Reilly in particular) for supporting the event.

Firstly teenagers (14-16) from Core Youth Service, St John Bosco, Ballyfermot Youth Service, and Rialto Youth Project took part in a tournament at Richmond Park. This follows on from the Friday Night Football programme which the club ran last winter throughout the off season. Many of the young people that took part in the winter series were again present at Richmond for this tournament. We are well into a process of building a positive identity with youth in the aforementioned areas. The role that the club can play in forging positive relationships and giving teenagers an outlet to channel their passion should not be underestimated. This is something that I am always keen to communicate to stakeholders in the local community and public representatives.

Unfortunately, with a midweek change in public health guidelines, reluctantly the final day of the tournament had to be cancelled.

While all the young people that took part represented their group in a sporting manner, Core Youth Service played some brilliant football and ran out victorious.

Short community camps like this with little or no cost to families are a brilliant way to introduce families to St Patrick’s Athletic FC. In the past year we have ran community camps in Inchicore and Bluebell and we will explore opportunities at times like mid term break and school holidays to roll these out further into areas such as Ballyfermot, Walkinstown, and Drimnagh. The more opportunities to bring St Patrick’s Athletic out into our wider catchment area, the better for everybody concerned.

While many of the teenagers normally attend games and identify as St Pat’s fans, being unable to bring the groups from Inchicore, Drimnagh, Ballyfermot, and Rialto down to a game together to celebrate the success of the tournament is a great pity.

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GOAL Mile

Academic Year

Representatives from local organisations in Inchicore are currently in the process of organising a GOAL mile which all going well will take place at Richmond Park this Christmas. One of my current community aims is to make Richmond Park more accessible to the local community and to have more nonfootball events take place at the venue throughout the calendar year. Hosting a GOAL Mile provides us with a great opportunity to throw open our doors to the local community while facilitating a family friendly event.

Best wishes to all the students and teachers that have returned to school recently. We are exploring ways to deliver our education programmes a little differently this term and we hope to have made some progress on that front soon.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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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

11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:08 Page 25

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.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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100th League of Ireland season Sean Creedon

The opening games in the new League of Ireland were played 99 years ago on Saturday September 17, 1921.

St James’s Gate were the inaugural winners of the

If we are lucky enough to see the end of this

League that season and the other seven founder

coronavirus pandemic no doubt there will be

members were, in the order they finished the 1921-

celebrations next year when the FAI and the League

22 season: Bohemians, Shelbourne, Olympia, Jacobs,

of Ireland both celebrate their centenary. However,

Frankfort, Dublin United and YMCA.

in 2002 when the League of Ireland switched from a winter to a summer season, we had two League

With only eight clubs there were just 14 series of

seasons and two FAI Cup finals. So really this

games played and Jack Kelly of St James’ Gate was

truncated campaign we are in right now is the 100th

the top scorer in the league that season with 11

League of Ireland season.

goals.

The Football league of Ireland was formed at a St Patrick’s Athletic joined the League in 1951 and

meeting in the Leinster Football League offices in

won the championship at their first attempt,

Mary Street, Dublin on August 30, 1921. The FAI,

finishing three points ahead of Shelbourne with 34

having split from the Irish Football Association in

points from 22 games.

Belfast, was formed at meeting in the Molesworth Hall on June 1, 1921.

Shay Gibbons with 26 goals was the top scorer in the league in 1951-52. The Saints other goalscorers

You probably don’t need me to tell you that a huge

were: John Breen (6), Harry Boland (4), Patrick

section of Irish people are obsessed with English

Donnelly (4), Tommy ‘Longo’ White (4), John

football. Some may joke that we have a lot of ‘new’

‘Barreler’ Cassidy (3), Tommy Desay (3), Dessie Byrne

soccer fans since the introduction of the

(2), Johnny Coyle (2), Charlie Smith (2), Patrick

Premiership in 1992, but recently I heard a historian

Murray (1) and Jimmy Staunton (1).

say on RTE radio say that Irish people’s interest in English soccer goes back over 100 years.

Today opponents Sligo Rovers joined the League in 1934. They won the League for the first time in the

He said that from the time Val Harris left

1936-37 season and finished fourth in 1951-52.

Shelbourne to join Everton in 1908 there has been a

Sligo’s scorers in 51-52 were: Liam Coll (11), Johnny

huge interest in English soccer here. Down through

Armstrong (10), Mick Lipper (9), Tommy Buggy (5),

the decades famous Irish players like: Johnny Carey,

Seamus O’Connell (5), Tommy Isles (3), Jimmy ‘Dusty’

Peter Farrell, Con Martin, Noel Cantwell, Charlie

Miller (1), Danny Cameron (1) and Jakcie Kinahan (1).

Hurley, Tony Dunne, Johnny Giles, Paddy Mulligan, Don Givens, Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton, David O’Leary, Ronnie Whelan, Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran,

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that Everton, who had several

as they catch a flight to

Irish internationals, were

Manchester, Liverpool or London.

probably the best supported club

It’s a free country and to be fair

in Ireland.

some of those Premier League fans may also attend League of

Then along came ‘Match of the

Ireland games. Back in the early

Day’ on BBC in 1964 followed by

seventies I was that soldier, but it

ITV’s ‘The Big Match’ on Sunday

was a boat journey with work

afternoons. Comparisons with the

colleagues from the North Wall on

League of Ireland were unfair as

a Friday night to watch games in

we had to make do with RTE’s one

Liverpool and Manchester.

camera at Tolka Park where the pillars in the stand got in the way

I think I am preaching to the

of the action.

converted here in Inchicore when I say that it’s really difficult for

The late Con Houlihan used to say

League of Ireland clubs to attract

that the staging of the World Cup

new fans to local games. Stephen

in England in 1966 was the first

Bennett’s article in the Cork City

time a lot of people in rural

programme earlier this season

Ireland got to see a full soccer

explained how the ‘barstoolers’

John O’Shea, Shay Given, Roy

game when RTE showed some of

and ‘armchair supporters’ use

Keane, Damien Duff and Robbie

the games live. Television viewers

various excuses so that they can

Keane continued the trend of

in the greater Dublin area were

sit at home or in a pub on a wet

joining English clubs.

able to access BBC and ITV with

Friday or Saturday night and

external aerials, but RTE

enjoy football from all over the

Now I’m no sociologist, but I do

Television had only gone on the

world on television.

think that Manchester United may

air five years earlier.

League of Ireland games attracted

have acquired a lot of Irish supporters after the Munich Crash

Before the coronavirus pandemic

good attendances in the fifties

in 1958, which claimed the life of

struck you would see groups of

and sixties, but sadly nowadays

seven of Matt Busby’s babes,

soccer fans at Dublin Airport on

not enough Irish people ‘follow

including Dubliner Liam Whelan.

Saturday mornings dressed in

the floodlights’ any more.

Prior to the Munich crash I’m told

colours of various English clubs

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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

11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:09 Page 29

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 29

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Thank you for the days Stephen Bennett

@stebenn15

Often in times of difficulty we can think back to a time when things were a little bit rosier.

During this pandemic, we might think about the time you could walk into a pub and order a pint without having to buy food and keep an eye on the time. Or jumping on a plane without having to worry about putting the whole country at risk as a result.

years - means there are too many to mention.

In the case of Pats as we struggle through this Covid-inflicted half-season, many of us have gone back to moments like Christy Fagan's clincher in the 2014 FAI Cup final against Derry City.

I have my own personal reasons for having a particular grá for that 2014 team. My Da.

What's not to like? The finish? The Pats crowd in rapturous celebration behind the goal? The sense of relief that the Cup was coming back to Inchicore after 53 years? The commentary?

It's a short clip of pure unadulterated joy and the warm glow surrounding clips like that pretty much sums up the second coming of Liam Buckley at the club.

Sure, all good things must come to an end. Football managers will know this better than anyone.

But the overriding feeling is that of a great era for St Patrick's Athletic under a manager who produced arguably the club's best brand of football.

Bucko's team - in particular the side that won the 2013 Premier Division title and the FAI Cup in the following year - were something special.

Having travelled the highways and byways supporting St Pat's over five decades, he lost his battle with Parkinson's dementia only a few weeks before that victory at the Aviva.

He died the day before that FAI Cup semi-final against Finn Harps - a resounding 6-1 victory.

His last game at Richmond Park was viewed from the wheelchair section - a win over Limerick in 2013 on a rare Saturday afternoon.

In the days after that final victory, elation tinged with dejection, I found myself going back to when we took the short walk down to 'Richer' to stand on the Camac side's grassy knoll back in 80s.

I stand corrected on this one, as my memory of watching Pats starts from the early 1980s.

Before we'd make our way to the Camac there would be a customary stop-off to buy a packet of sweets from Mrs Lakes' stall which was stationed directly behind the goal where the Patrons Stand now lies.

The League-winning teams of Brian Kerr and Pat Dolan were exceptional, and deservedly got their rewards to match the talent on show.

Mrs Lakes was clever in her postition of that stall.

She and her pram full of sweets were safe behind the nets.

They are now household names and the amount of league titles - the club has won 6 league titles in 30

Expectations weren't great back then. It was more of an exercise in hope with occasional glimpses of

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what we could be. And dog's abuse of the officials, Paddy Daly being a particular target of the angry men on the left bank.

It was in the mid-80s that I first became properly conscious of Liam Buckley, in, of all places, the Nou Camp.

My Da took my brother and I to watch a La Liga game between a Barcelona team that included Gary Lineker and Steve Archibald and Sevilla. During the game, my Da would be glancing over at the giant scoreboard as it gave updates on the other games going on that day.

Then came the nudge. "Look at the scoreboard," he said. I looked to my right and saw the words "Racing Santander" and "Buckley" emblazoned on the big screen. He bellowed: "Liam Buckley, he's Irish, played for Rovers. Just scored for Santander. That's brilliant."

We knew nothing then of the impact he would have on the club closest to our hearts decades later.

Those Sundays in the old Richmond and Harold's Cross put our current struggles in perspective.

Buckley's team brought the Cup famine and decades of torment to an end, and every supporter has their own recollection of why the occasion could be viewed as bittersweet with a loved one not there to witness it.

It can be a whole lot better, but also a whole lot worse.

It was an unforgettable era in the club's history and the fact that Pat's fans aren't ruling out a third coming of 'Bucko' at some stage in the future speaks volumes.

I've seen the extremes of both. For now, the riches of success are a memory, but hope springs eternal that we'll get there again.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

The James lyric "if I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor" spring to mind.

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It’s Quiz Time!

Answers on Page 40

1

When were Dundalk first relegated from the Premier Division?

6

Which First Division club knocked Shamrock Rovers out of the League Cup last year?

2

Former Saint and Sligo rovers player Rhys McCabe currently plays for which Scottish league club?

7

Name the 3 managers that Watford had in the Premier League last season?

8 3

Who is the Manager of Champion's League Winners Bayern Munich?

Which current Premier League club lost at home to non league Barnet in the FA Cup last season?

4

Which current Premier League player scored the first goal for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp?

9

Who were the first country not to score in a World Cup final?

10 5

Who was the last player to score a goal for St Pats in the FAI Cup?

Which 2 non-league clubs were promoted to the English League in 2020?

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

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11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:09 Page 34

A View from Afar Ian Templeman

@iantemplemanloi

A couple of Sundays ago, I was standing on a main road in a town in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. My wife and daughter were in the car, waiting for me as I stood and contemplated the surroundings.

They had rolled their eyes when I had asked them if we could make a detour and stop here, but they are used to my footballing eccentricities, so a request from me to make brief stop on a football-related matter is nothing unusual for them.

We were on our way back home to Bolton in Lancashire, after having spent a short break in St Andrews, on the north east coast of Fife. Before we set off for home, I was having a look at various routes back down south, and places to stop for lunch. And then my eye was drawn to a town on the map, about an hour from St Andrews, and which was on one of the possible routes back home.

Dunfermline. Situated in the west of Fife, Dunfermline was once the capital of Scotland, and has a number of historical venues in the town that are worth a look if you are passing through as a tourist. There's a Royal Palace, and a 12th century Abbey which is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce and the burial site of 11 other Scottish kings and queens. The philanthophist Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, and his life is commemorated in the Carnegie Birthplace Museum in the town centre.

But those landmarks weren't the reason I decided to make the town our first destination on the journey home - the purpose of my scheduled stop on Halbeath Road on the outskirts of Dunfermline town centre was to take a step back in time and remember one of the most significant moments in the history of St Patrick's Athletic.

As long standing Pats fans will be aware, the first ever European tie that the Saints played was in the European Cup-Winners Cup at East End Park against Dunfermline Athletic. What's more, the anniversary of that first leg tie is today. Back on the 12th September 1961, Pats fell to a 4-1 defeat over in Dunfermline, and then lost the return

34

leg at Tolka Park 4-0, to go out 8-1 on aggregate.

These days the competition is no more, but back then the domestic cup winners from each European country qualified to play in it. Pats took their place thanks to a 2-1 win over Drumcondra in the FAI Cup final just over three months earlier, as we know it took another 53 years from then before the trophy came back to Inchicore. Dunfermline, meanwhile, booked their place with a 2-0 win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup final replay, after the first game had ended 0-0.

Last summer when we hosted Norrkoping in the Europa League at Richmond Park, I put together a feature for the programme on both of the games against Dunfermline, and enlisted help from the Media Officer, Programme Editor and Club Historian at Dunfermline Athletic, who passed on some very useful photos and information. One of the things I learned was that the games are just as significant for Dunfermline Athletic. Duncan, the club's Programme Editor, commented to me at the time: "Our matches against St Patrick's were our first ever in European competition too, so they are very important to us".

As I stood outside the venue of such a notable game in both clubs' history, the first thing that struck me was that East End Park looks a lot different today compared to how it must have looked when the Pats team arrived on Halbeath Road back in 1961. It's an impressive modern all-seater stadium, which was largely redeveloped in the 1990s and early 2000s when Dunfermline Athletic were regular participants in the Scottish Premier Division.

The picture to the right shows one of the main entrances to the ground, adjacent to which is a mural with pictures

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been a new experience to travel as a group to a different country, to face a team that they will have known very little about. Did they stay for a couple of nights in Dunfermline, go shopping in the town centre to take in the sights of a place they had never been to, and maybe take back souvenirs of the visit? Or were they even be given time out to visit a local hostelry or two, and sample some of the local brews? At the very least, it must have been a trip that they all remembered for some time afterwards, and for most it was the only away game in a European competition that they played in for the club.

and mini biographies of a number star players from the club's past.

Two of those featured, Charlie Dickson and Ron Mailer, played in both games against Pats. Dickson certainly made his mark as he scored in both legs in the tie, notching the third goal in the first leg in Dunfermline, and two more in the return game at Tolka Park.

Three goals out of a total of 215 that he scored for the club, according to his pen picture in the gallery.

As I turned away to walk back to the car, to continue our journey, it occurred to me that one of the nice things about this story is that I or anyone else who wants to visit the ground that hosted Pats' first ever foray into Europe can do so, and without too much difficulty if you happen to be in Central Scotland.

Dunfermline is only about 12 miles from Edinburgh, just off one of the main motorways in Scotland and on a major rail route. The ground itself

is located on one of the main routes into Dunfermline town centre from the motorway, and therefore the modern, well-appointed stadium is not a hard place to find.

We could easily have been drawn against a club in a far off nondescript part of Europe, where the ground and even the club could be long gone. Instead, we played a club that has a long history, is based in a nice town, still playing at the same ground, and with pictures on the wall outside of two Dunfermline players who played in those CupWinners Cup games 59 years ago.

What's more, Dunfermline Athletic is a club whose officials value and recognise the games against St Patrick's Athletic as an important milestone in what was the start of a successful decade for them.

It was reassuring, maybe even comforting, to feel that the ground that hosted Pats' first ever game in Europe has a modern positive vibe but maintains a link to the past.

Long may that continue to be the case.

Ian Templeman

I let my mind wander, trying to imagine how the Pats players of 1961 would have felt when they stepped off the coach, a short distance from where I was standing. It was, perhaps, the first time many of them will have travelled outside of Ireland or been on a plane, assuming that they didn't get a boat across the Irish Sea and then make a long coach journey.

Either way, it would certainly have

Read the original match report from this game on pages 36 and 37

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R

SEPTEMBE

12 1961

European Cup Winners Cup Qualifying Round First Leg East End Park, Dunfermline

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 4 ST PATRICK'S ATH 1

By W.P. Murphy

ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC gave an excellent performance at Dunfermline last night, though beaten 4-1 in their European Cup-winners' Cup first round, first leg game. They were three goals down after 28 minutes, but fought back with admirable tenacity and had 12,000 home supporters worried about Dunfermline's coming visit to Dublin for the second leg at Tolka Park. It was only two minutes from the end when rightwinger, McDonalcL ironed out most of their wrinkles with a splendidly headed fourth goal.

It was a highly creditable ellort by the F.A.I. Cup holders against a smart Scottish full-time professional side. For the first half hour Dunfermline threatened to run not, but in the second half tthey had to fight grimly. They still had a big territorial advantage, but were always in danger of conceding a second goal In one of the visitors' spasmodic raids.

Naturally, it was mainly a defensive performance by St. Patricks. Their defence earned full marks. They were up against a side which had plenty of dash arid skill to back up their big advantage in speed. They started at a terrific pace trying obviously to run St. Patricks into the

36

ground. If the quality of the football declined in the second half. It was only to be expected, for tile early efforts of both sides had taken toll.

LOWRY'S GREAT WORTH Dunfermline's forwards, prompted by clever halves, zigzagged their way all over the field, but St. Patricks' defenders covered one another In fine style.

In these international club competitions, the worth of home advantage Is generally reckoned as two goals. St. Patrick's can feel happy to have escaped from this difficult task only three behind. this was Dinny Lowry's "finest hour." He gave a wonderful display of diving. Jumping and catching interpersed with quick advances and daring dives at attackers' feet. "Only for the goalkeeper we'd have got double figures." was the high tribute paid to him by a disgruntled home supporter. His better efforts were loudly cheered by a very sporting crowd.

Dunfermline supporters will remember White who, with the cheeky magic of a footballing leprechaun for all his pint-size stormed through the game In a series of electric dashes, fierce tackles and raking clearances.

His header off the line in the 37th

minute was his big moment of the match, an inspiration to his colleagues. It brought a burst of explosive energy from a slumbering attack which produced a goal and put St. Patricks back into the game.

THRILLING MOMENT At that stage Dunfermline, three up, were moving smoothly towards an overwhelming victory.

When they swept In on the Pat's goal In Just one more attack.

Dinny Lowry advanced to help McCarthy in a heading duel against Dickson. Lowry punched the ball right to the feet of Smith, who unleashed a fierce drive for the empty net. Suddenly from nowhere bobbed little White to save a certain goal with his head an effort that got one of tho biggest cheers of the game. The ball was cleared away to Peyton, who moved across field and with a deft pass back inside, caught the home defence wrong footed to give O’Rourke a chance. He raced on to shoot past interLeague goalkeeper, Connachan.

So in that dramatic minute St. Patricks instead of being four down, were back In the game, only two goals behind. So they remained until two minutes from the end. McCarthy and Dunne, as defenders, were able assistants for White and Lowry, and

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Irish Independent Wednesday 13 September 1961

GALLANT ST PATRICK’S DEFENCE

DUNFERMLINE HAD TO WORK FOR 4-1 WIN although the Scottish forwards weaved some delightful posses, they could not again beat the defence. At one stage in the second half they even earned the disapproval of their enthusiastic supporters, most of them still bearing relics of their Cup final triumph in the form of favours, scarves, coloured hats and flags.

Clarke and O'Reilly, striving manfully against two very clever and speedy inside men, occaslonaly got their forwards working. Once In the second half, O'Reilly came right through to make a capital scoring effort, but Connachan saved. Easily the most dangerous of St. Patricks forwards was Willie Peyton, whose left-wing dashes often worried Fraser.

He was the goal-maker and had a couple of good efforts himself after the Interval. Redmond, I thought, led the line with skill and ability. O'Rourke, in flashes, was a goal-scoring danger.

Whelan's work In holding the ball and passing accurately must have been appreciated by the overworked defence, while fullback Treacy, playing as rightwinger, was an unusually effective handyman, a great help to his defenders, all of whom can take credit for a useful performance against heavy odds. Dunfermline took the lead

In the 15th minute, when Smith hooked the ball across goal and Melrose took It first-time to beat Lowry. The second goal, eight minutes later, came when McCarthy, who had time to clear, hesitated and hit the ball against inside man, Keebles, who ran through to score. Five minutes later Dickson headed their third trom a free by Cunningham. St. Patrick' well-worked goal came in the thrilling 38th minute. The second half was mainly Dunfermline. St. Patricks held out until two minutes from time, when Dickson, roaming on tho left wing, sent the ball across for

McDonald to score with a header.

Dunfermline Athletic Connachan, Fraser, Cunningham, Mailer, Miller, Duffy, McDonald, Smith, Dickson, Keebles, Melrose.

St. Patrick’s Athletic Lowry, White, Dunne, Clarke, McCarthy, O'Rellly, Treacy, O'Rourke, Redmond, Whelan, Peyton.

Referee: Mr. A. Holland, Barnsley.

The St. Patrick’s goalkeeper, Lowry, fails to stop Dunfermline’s first goal. Also in the picture are Melrose (Dunfermline), centre, and White (St. Patricks).

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11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:10 Page 38

ION PRINT IT D E D E IT IM UR L TO ORDER YO C.COM F S T A P T S @ O ACT INF PLEASE CONT

11Sept20-Sligo Rovers-FINAL_A5 11/09/2020 16:10 Page 39

History Dermot Looney @dlooney

From Phoenix Park to Richmond Park On Saturday, September 13th, St Patrick's Athletic club historial Dermot Looney organised a unique event to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first game every played by St Patrick's Athletic football club, which took place in the famous 15 acres in Phoenix Park.

The game was a 7-3 win against Greenmount United in the Intermediate League. Using the twitter hashtag #phoenixtorichmond, Dermot called on Pat's fans to walk from the 15 acres in the Phoenix Park to Richmond Park, before or after this evening's game, maintaining social distancing guidelines.

This unique event was a wonderful way to celebrate the genesis of the club, which would go on the become league champions for the first time 22 years later.

Dermot made a short video to announce the event, and you can view it here:

https://twitter.com/stpatsfc/status/1304158619022364678

FROM PHOENIX PARK TO RICHMOND PARK - A3 PRINTS • High quality Giclée art print.

• Professionally printed on 250gsm stock.

• Delivered in quality poster tube.

• Limited Edition.

• Available in A3 Portrait.

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Player Apps & Goals 2020 Up to and including Waterford game on Friday 4th September.

26 Brendan Clarke

GK

LEAGUE

TOTAL

FAI CUP

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

10

0

0

0

10

0

2 Rory Feely

D

9

0

1

0

10

0

3 Ian Bermingham (C)

D

6+1s

0

1

0

7+1s

0

4 Dan Ward

D

4+2s

0

1

0

5+2s

0

5 Lee Desmond

D

9+1s

0

0

0

9+1s

0

6 Jamie Lennon

M

7+2s

0

1

0

8+2s

0

7 Robbie Benson

M

8

1

1s

0

8+1s

1

8 Darragh Markey

M

1+4s

0

1

0

2+5s

0

9 Martin Rennie

F

2+6s

0

1

0

3+6s

0

12 Georgie Kelly

F

5

2

1s

0

5+1s

2

14 Luke McNally

D

10

0

1

0

11

0

15 Billy King

M

6+1s

1

0

0

6+1s

1

16 Jay McClelland

M

4+4s

0

1

0

5+4s

0

17 Simon Madden

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

19 Chris Forrester

M

7+2s

1

1s

0

7+3s

1

20 Shane Griffin

D

6

0

0

0

6

0

22 James Doona

F

1+5s

0

1s

0

1+6s

0

23 Jordan Gibson

F

4+2s

0

1

0

5+2s

0

24 David Titov

D

5

0

1

0

6

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

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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

0-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Desmond

Lennon

G

Sat 22 Aug Bohemians

Away Series 9

0-2

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Fri 04 Sep

Away Series 10

0-3

Clarke

Feely

Griffin

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Sun 12 Sep Sligo Rovers

Home Series 11

0-1

Fri 18 Sep

Away Series 12

0-1

Sat 26 Sep Shelbourne

Home Series 13

0-1

Sat 03 Oct

Cork City

Away Series 14

0-1

Fri 09 Oct

Dundalk

Home Series 15

0-1

Sat 17 Oct

Finn Harps

Away Series 16

0-1

Fri 23 Oct

Shamrock Rovers

Away Series 17

0-1

Fri 30 Oct

Bohemians

Home Series 18

0-1

Waterford

Derry City

First XI

Quiz Time!

Extra.ie FAI Cup Dates

1 1998-99

6

Bray Wanderers

2 Brechin City

7

Nigel Pearson, Javi Garcia, Quique Flores.

8

Sheffield United

9

Argentina - 1990

W/E Ending 30 Aug

2nd Round

3 Hansi Flick

W/E Ending 08 Nov

Quarter-Finals

4 Christian Benteke

W/E Ending 22 Nov

Semi-Finals

5 Conor Clifford

Sunday 29 Nov

Final

42

Questions on Page 33

10 Harrogate Town and Barrow

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 5 • St Patrick’s Athletic v SLIGO Rovers

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League

FAI Cup

1st Sub 2nd Sub 3rd Sub

4th Sub

5th Sub

* Own Goal For

1 Goals Scored P Penalty OG Own Goal

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

Griffin

Benson

Forrester

Kelly

Ward

King

Gibson

Markey

McClelland

Cleary

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Forrester

Kelly

McClelland

Doona

Markey

Rennie

McClelland

Cleary

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Ward

Kelly

McClelland

Doona

Markey

Rennie

Forrester

1

1

2

Premier League Table Club

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1 Shamrock Rvs 10

8

2

0

21

6

15

26

2 Bohemians

10

7

0

3

12

5

7

21

3 Sligo Rovers

10

5

0

5

14 15

-1

15

4 Dundalk

9

4

2

3

17

12

5

14

5 Waterford

10

4

2

4

12

12

0

14

6 Shelbourne

10

3

3

4

7

9

-2

11

7 Derry City

9

3

2

4

11 10

1

11

8 St Pat’s Ath

10

3

2

5

6

10

-4

11

9 Cork City

10

2

2

6

6

16 -10

8

10 Finn Harps

10

2

1

7

7

18 -11

7

Includes Games on Monday 7 September

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43

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