The 1990s

Turmoil & Triumph

Despite the League title in 1989-90, all was not well. The Harold’s Cross exile continued as Richmond Park became a grazing ground for sheep rather than a renovated modern stadium. Financial issues came to a head in the summer of 1992 when the club was hours away from bankruptcy, only to be saved by a last-minute injection of £82,000 raised by investors and fans.

By then much of the League-winning team had been scattered to the four winds. Pat’s had finished a creditable third in the League in 1990-91, as well as winning the Leinster Senior Cup and LFA President’s Cup. 1991-92 saw a seventh place finish with a weakened side, while 1992-93 and 1993-94 saw an experimental Top Six/Bottom Six split in the League, with Pat’s in the lower section on both occasions.

By then, however, Pat’s were back at home in Richmond Park. The exile hadn’t been easy. Con Houlihan wrote that despite Harold’s Cross being “hardly three miles away, [the Pat’s] supporters were not happy. The local people were not friendly, the drink didn't taste right, the weather was colder.” The return came against Shelbourne in December 1993 with a new Main Stand (later to be expanded) renovations to the Inchicore End and the flattening of the pitch – the old 6’3’’ slope was no more.

Patrick’s were thriving off the field too, with explayer Pat Dolan spearheading commercial drives resulting in significant investment in the club including new Chairman Tim O’Flaherty. Kerr’s squad expanded to include Eddie Gormley, Paul “Soupy” Campbell, Liam Buckley, Brian Morrisroe and Ricky O’Flaherty.

At the end of the 95-96 season, Pat’s travelled to Oriel Park to exorcise the ghosts of eight years previous. Falling behind 1-0, Pat’s recovered with a Ricky O’Flaherty header and a Soupy Campbell free-kick to lift the Championship trophy. It was the Saints’ fifth League of Ireland title but, remarkably, the first which had come playing at home in Richmond Park.

Kerr’s team fell just short of a double, losing to Shelbourne in a notorious FAI Cup final replay. Kerr left midway through the 1996-97 season to take up a post as technical director of the FAI, with chief executive Pat Dolan a surprise appointment as manager. The Saints finished in fifth place that season but key signings including youth internationals Colin Hawkins and Trevor Molloy saw Pat’s in a dogfight with old rivals Shelbourne for the 1997-98 League title.