The Saint (Vol 35 #1)

Fáilte

Saints v Derry City

Manager: Tim Clancy

Asst Manager: Jon Daly

Tá

orainn fáilte a chur roimh an mbainistíocht, imreoirí agus

Danny Rogers

David Odumosu

Noah Lewis Anto Breslin

Joe Redmond (C)

Tom Grivosti

Jamie Lennon

Serge Atakayi

Chris Forrester

Eoin Doyle

Tommy Lonergen

Jason McClelland

Harry

We are pleased to welcome the management, players and supporters of Derry City

Football Club to Richmond Park tonight.

Match

President’s Welcome

Tom O’Mahony

Good Evening

You’re very welcome back to Richmond Park for our 2023 league opener.  We extend a particularly warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Derry City FC.

Before looking at the season ahead I want to take a moment to mark the sad passing last month of Anthony Maguire, who was our Head Groundsman for almost 20 years.  Anto took great pride in delivering an impeccable playing surface which contributed greatly to the quality of the football on offer in Richmond.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h'anam dílis.

Optimism is part of the make-up of the football supporter, especially at the start of the season, but I’d like to think that in our case it’s well grounded this time around.  In stark contrast to last year, we go into the new season with a settled squad.  All but two of the regular starting 11 who took us on a fine run of results from the summer onwards are still with the club, while we have got some reinforcements of real quality in defence, midfield and attack.  As always, the goal first and foremost

is to secure European qualification once again; beyond that, we must be ambitious enough to aim for domestic silverware and a good European run.

We will be greatly helped in that by the incredible support base that has been growing steadily in the past few years.  With season ticket sales at an all time high, it looks as if most of our home games will be sellouts.  We are also enjoying excellent levels of sponsorship and merchandise sales. Let’s hope that the combined efforts of players, coaches and supporters will give us a season to remember.

The fixture compiler has certainly given us a tasty tie to begin with. Like ourselves, Derry go into the new season with great optimism. The pundits see them as the main challengers to the outgoing champions, they have a very fine young manager and some exceptionally talented players.  It’s a great test of our own ambitions and I’m really looking forward to it.

Enjoy the game!

Tom O'Mahony President St Patrick's Athletic FC

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB

Richmond Park 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, 2021

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

LOI 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

Safety at Richmond Park

Stadium Regulations

• All persons entering the stadium are admitted only subject to the following ground regulations and to the regulations of the Football Association. Entry to the ground shall be deemed to constitute unqualified acceptance of all these rules and regulations.

• Firework, smoke canisters, bottles, glasses, cans, flags, banners, poles, flares and any other articles or containers which could or might be used as a weapon or likely to cause a nuisance to other people in the stadium are not permitted within the stadium and any person in possession of such an article or container may be refused entry or ejected from the stadium.

• Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an Adult and that adult must accept respon sibility for those in his/her charge.

• Spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol or any banned substances into the stadium.

Safety Notice

Ronan O’Flaherty

• There is a no smoking policy in effect in both stands.

• The climbing of walls, floodlight pylons, stands or any structure inside theg round is strictly forbidden.

• Any persons found damaging or defacing the property of St Patrick’s Athletic FC will be liable to prosecution.

• Any excessive noise, such as that from the use of radio sets megaphones and/or behaviour likely to cause confusion or nuisance i.e.: Laser lights of any kind is not permitted inside the stadium.

• Foul or abusive language is not permitted inside the stadium and will result in ejection from the stadium.

• No form of racist abuse will be tolerated inside the stadium and will result in ejection from the stadium and may result in a prosecution by An Garda. St Patrick's Athletic shows the red card to racism.

• St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club are committed to ensuring the safety of all spectators at Richmond Park. It is therefore important that the following information is read and strictly adhered to.

• Anyone requiring medical attention during the game should alert their nearest steward or club official and will be directed to the St John’s Ambulance attendant or First Aid Room.

• Any person who does not comply with instructions from a steward may be ejected from the stadium.

• In general, the right of admission is reserved to the Club Management of St Patrick’s Athletic FC.

• St Patrick’s Athletic FC reserves the right to refuse admission or eject any person from the stadium who refuses to be searched by a police officer.

• Any person who blocks, or obstructs a gangway in any way and refuses to move on request may be ejected from the stadium.

• St Patrick’s Athletic FC reserves the right for its servants or agents to remove from the stadium any person who does not comply with the stadium regulations or whose presence inside the stadium could reasonably be construed as a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any spectator.

• Parents, Guardians or any adult responsible for children inside the stadium should ensure that children are supervised at all times.

• Cigarettes should be properly extinguished as they can be a major cause of fire.

• The use of flares inside the stadium is strictly forbidden.

Emergency Procedure

In the event of an emergency at Richmond Park requiring evacuation of the ground in part or whole, spectators are requested to remain where they are and listen for announcements over the public address system. The announcements may direct spectators in a specific area of the ground, or the stadium as a whole, to evacuate the through exit gates to the outside of the stadium, or through perimeter gates onto the pitch. Club stewards and members of the Garda Siochana will assist in directing spectators. If requested to vacate a specified area of the ground, spectators should do so as calmly and quickly as possible to assist in a safe and speedy evacuation. Do not, under any circumstances, re-enter an evacuated area. Please take note of your nearest exit.

Good Evening

Welcome to Richmond Park for the opening night of the 2023 season. Few things give such cause for optimism as the start of a football season, when so many things seem possible. And indeed, it's only right to be optimistic as the Saints take to the field tonight, the club is in a fine place, both on and off the pitch. You're reading your copy of the Saint in a sold-out Richmond Park, as crowds return to this famous old ground in consistent numbers we have not seen in decades. Attractive and winning football brings fans of course but so does clever marketing and solid community work, both of which have been done to the highest standards, so congratulations to all involved at the club.

It's often the norm at the start of a season to spend some time adjusting to plenty of fresh faces, with the close season typically a time of great change. However, due to the commitment of many of the players, and good work by the club, Tim Clancy has a very settled squad as he faces into his third season. With Captain Joe Redmond and club legend Chris Forrester helping to anchor the team, there is plenty to be optimistic about. That also

includes the overdue introduction of a women's team for the club, as the St Parick's U-17's take to the field. We'll be following their progress throughout the season in the Saint.

We've also heard that people would like to see player interviews, and we'll be catching up with plenty of first team players once the season gets under way.

Just like the team, the editor has a fairly settled squad as he faces into his tenth season! Most importantly, it's great to have Joe O'Rourke on design, keeping the Saint looking as slick as ever. But we are always happy to see new faces, and we're delighted to have some new contributors onboard. We look forward to an action-packed season, on home and foreign shores, and the Saint will be with you every step of the way!

Now... time for the first step.

Enjoy the game,

Ruairi Kavanagh Editor The Saint

Eurozone

Editor Ruairi Kavanagh Design Joe O’Rourke

Photography Sportsfile & Inpho

Ronan O’Flaherty

Ruairi

The Dugout

Alan Mathews

Firstly on behalf of everybody connected with St Patricks Athletic Football Club we would like to convey our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to Derry City Manager Ruaidhrí Higgins and the Higgins family on the sudden passing of his brother Kevin, we are thinking of you all at this sad time, may he rest in peace.

A very good evening to everyone and a very warm welcome to the management, players, officials and fans of Derry City FC. We hope you enjoy your stay with us and wish you a safe journey home after the game.

Tonight is the first league game of the 2023 season and one that we are very much looking forward to. It’s been a very busy off-season for the club and I would like to say thank you to our fantastic backroom team who continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the team is in the best possible place to perform on any given week. I would like to thank all our sponsors, patrons, and volunteers who do so much to support our club. We are very lucky to have so many talented people working together to give the team a platform for success.

Since our last game here at the beginning of November we have seen a number of players come in and move on. We would like to thank all those players who have moved on to other clubs for their contribution last season and welcome into the fold, Noah Lewis, Tommy Lonergan, Vlad Kreida, Jake Mulraney, Conor Carthy, and Jay McGrath, who I am sure you will give a great Inchicore welcome to and will get behind them for the season ahead.

Tonight's opponents are a club we have a lot of respect for and will no doubt be one of the club’s who will have aspirations of winning the League this season, following on from their FAI Cup success last year. Ruaidhrí has assembled a very strong squad and they have already taken the Presidents Cup back to Derry.

We go into tonight’s game confident that we too can make a challenge on all fronts this season and are delighted with the new additions we have made. We believe we have the right mixture of youth and experience in addition to a hunger and desire to succeed within the group that will drive us on this season and help us achieve our ambitions.

To help us achieve on the pitch we can only do it with the support of you, our wonderful fans, we want Friday nights to be special in Inchicore and with your backing from the terraces we will try and play a brand of football you can get behind and enjoy.

Here’s looking to a great 2023 season, thanks for getting behind the team and I hope you enjoy the game.

Thanks,

Alan Mathews, Technial Director, St Patrick's Athletic FC.

Ronan O’Flaherty

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

• Media Room Renovation

• Heart Monitoring Equipment

• West Stand Repairs

• Grounds Keeping Equipment

• Club Shop

• 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

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

• 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

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.

Anto Maguire RIP

Everyone at St Patrick's Athletic is saddened by the news of the death of Anthony Maguire after illness.

Anto was our Head Groundsman for almost 20 years, he joined the club in 2003 and retired just last year.

Anto did a terrific job overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of Richmond Park, with particular attention to the playing surface, which was one of the best in the league during his tenure.

Maguire was a familiar and friendly face around the ground for almost two decades and he will be sorely missed by all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Anto's family and friends.

St Patrick's Athletic General Manager Anthony Delaney said: "All at the club were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Anto. He was part of the fabric of the club, and although recently retired, he was still a frequent visitor to the ground during last season.

Anto's hard work ensured that we had a stadium and pitch that players loved playing on and that spectators enjoyed visiting.

Anto will be sorely missed by his colleagues in St Patrick's Athletic and beyond, our condolences and sympathies are with the Maguire family at this difficult time, may he rest in peace"

Fellow groundsman Dave Carter sent this tribute into the Saint;

"I first met Anthony when I joined the club as assistant groundsman in 2006 and we worked together for 16 years, in all sorts of conditions! Anto was an absolute professional, he was an absolutely amazing gentleman to work with. He really loved Richmond Park, and he taught me everything that I should know about the pitch and the club, and the connection between the ground, the team and the surrounding community. On a personal level, I am really going to miss him and I know the whole club will too. We will continue to do our best to maintain his high standards! Rest well Anto."

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis

Oh My Word!

Ronan O’Flaherty

Victory in county Louth offered a sense that something special was afoot. The push for a third-place finish – and with it the guarantee of European football – was in motion. Dundalk had been a notoriously difficult place for Saints teams in recent years, but Adam O'Reilly's winning goal deep into injury time exorcised the ghosts of Oriel past. The celebrations that greeted the young Corkman's winner told a story in itself.

St Patrick’s had caught lightning in a bottle and the cap remained tightly sealed for the visit of Bohemians seven days later. When Serge Atakayi struck in the seventh minute, there was a sense that the fans – filled with expectation – had sucked the ball into the net. Well-founded expectation, too. St Patrick's were the form team in the country and they were on the way to another three-point haul. The 3-1 victory against the Gypsies made it eight wins, two draws and one defeat from the previous 11 league outings.

Away days don't come any harder than Tallaght. With the RTÉ cameras in position, It was a night when TV viewers got to witness the special vibe enveloping St Patrick’s Athletic. Flags, colour and a wall of noise greeted the arrival of the red men. The team immediately responded to the phenomenal support. Atakayi struck for the opener even faster than he had a week earlier. But it wasn't to be. We go back to D24 on March 17 when,

hopefully, the day lives up to its name.

A wobble followed in Sligo before the team got back on track emphatically. The dismantling of Shelbourne made for an engrossing spectacle. The previous meeting with Shels, at Tolka Park, ended 4-4 and was described by some as the game of the season. For supporters, there was little comfort in that. It had been a head-scratcher of a game that provided more questions than answers.

To claw back a two-goal deficit and earn a point was pleasing, but conceding four was a worry. Those concerns evaporated in the 4-0 victory on the closing day. Eoin Doyle showed sniffer-like qualities to pounce with a brace that he made look easy. With the right service into the danger zone this season, he can break through the 20-goal barrier.

Richmond Park was again packed to the rafters on that crisp November night against Damien Duff's boys. Ian Bermingham got the sendoff his stellar service merited. "Their leader was a Ballyer man" read the banner displayed by the brilliant SEI. It included an image of Ian lifting the FAI Cup trophy – only the third Saints captain to do so after Tommy Dunne and Ger O'Brien. He retires as the club's record appearance holder. The Hall of Fame beckons.

The season was winding down just as the team found its stride.

This evening, the Saints kick off a season without Ian for the first time since 2009. He's still very much involved of course, just not as a player. Derry City had the edge on St Patrick's last year, illustrated by their two victories at Richmond Park. As the season progressed, it became clear that if anyone was going to challenge Shamrock Rovers, it would be Derry City.

Seven days after St Patrick's put four past Shels, the Foylesiders matched the feat in the

cup final. Saints fans in attendance at Lansdowne Road were channelling their inner Candystripe, knowing that victory would send Pat's into Europe.

We enjoyed the European adventure last year and perhaps, with a bit of luck, would have gone at least one round further. It's all ahead of us again. But let's not wish away the present. There'll be plenty of water under the bridge between now and then. Happy new season.

Quiz Time

1 Who is the only player to score in the League of Ireland, Serie A and all 4 divisions of the English football league?

2 Who were the last irish team to finish in 4th position and fail to qualify for Europe?

3 Who scored for Derry City in the quarter final, semi final and the final as they won the FAI Cup last season?

4 Former Saint Jake Walker has signed for which League of Ireland club for the 2023 season?

5 When did Newcastle last play in a League Cup final?

6 Who were the only Premier League club not to sign a player in the January transfer window?

7 Who scored Argentina's winning penalty in the World Cup final shootout??

8 Who played in the 1997 and 2010 league Cup finals?

9 Who were the last winners of the League Cup at the old Wembley stadium?

10 Which boxer was Lionel Messi threatened by during the World Cup in Qatar?

Patrick’s

Any views expressed in this article are the contributor's own.

1  Luther Blissett. 2

Waterford.

3 Jamie McGonigle.  4 Bray Wanderers.  5 1976. 6 Everton. 7

Gonzalo Montiel. 8 Emile Heskey. 9 Leicester City.  10 Canelo Alvarez.

Kieran Coughlan

Opp Watch - Derry City

"Begin as you mean to go on" is an expression that many Saints will have on their minds tonight, as they find themselves back on the banks of the Camac for yet another year of the ups and downs that come with following football.

There is, of course, no better way to start off a new campaign than by securing three points. Few, however, would be foolish enough to underestimate Derry City.

The 2022 season was certainly a successful one for the Candystripes. Although Shamrock Rovers managed to maintain their dominance in the league, ultimately finishing 13 points ahead of secondplace City, Derry enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 win against Shelbourne in November to bring the FAI Cup back to the Brandywell.

Another example of Derry's

quality last season came at our own expense, when two goals from Jamie McGonigle, combined with a goal a piece from Cameron Dummigan and former Pat's man Matty Smith, left the Saints on the wrong side of a 4-0 defeat here in Inchicore.

McGonigle, who scored 11 goals last season, will no doubt remain an attacking threat this season that the Saints backline will need to watch out for.

Derry have bolstered their squad with a number of signings in the off-season, including Adam O'Reilly, who quickly became a fan favourite around these parts last year during his spell on loan from Preston North End.

The Candystripes have already set down a marker for the season ahead, as they overcame Shamrock Rovers last week with two unanswered goals, from Will Patching and Michael Duffy, to claim the 2023 President's Cup.

Tonight's fixture will see two of the top sides in the country battling it out for the best possible start to the 2023 season. It should be a game that shows some of the best that our league has to offer.

Any views expressed in this article are the contributor's own.

@EoghanGardiner

Jamie McGonigle

Eoghan Gardiner

CARDIAC ARREST KNOW THE SCORE

Unconscious and

Unresponsive and

Absent or abnormal breathing

Would you like to join a Dublin City Council Community Cardiac Programme in Inchicore Community Sports Centre?

This is the 4th time we have played Derry City in the opening game of the league season.

All at St Patrick's Athletic would like to pass on our thoughts and condolences to all fans and friends of the club who we have lost in recent months. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha

Friday, February 18, 1983

FEBRUARY 17 1983

ST PATRICK'S ATH 3 WATERFORD UNITED 2

ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC are through to a fifth round FAI Cup tie with with Limerick United at Richmond Park next Wednesday, thanks to a dramatic Dom Tierney winning goal four minutes from the finish of yesterday's absorbing tie with Waterford — a game that went into a second period of extra time. This tie had a total of seven hours and 16 minutes when Tierney dragged up the final reserves of energy to head home a John Cervi cross as weary limbs faltered around him. One had to feel sympathy for Waterford who twice had to come from behind only to be denied a chance of a fourth replay at Kilcohan Park next week, when that decisive goal came in the second half of the second period of extra time. The St Pat's supporters went ecstatic when Tierney's goal at last broke the deadlock, but in truth, at that stage of the game — 126 minutes of football — it was more a lottery than a Cup tie.

RELIEVED

So evenly matched were the teams that it seemed this tie, which attracted a gate of £1,567, would never end. Unfortunately there had to be a loser. Kevin Power, Ger O'Mahony and 17year-old Greg Hayes will this morning be reflecting on how they let this tie slip away. They gave everything in Waterford's cause and still it was not enough. St Patrick's manager, Charlie Walker was a relieved man in the dressing room afterwards, realising the feelings of the

vanquished Waterford. "It was one kick of the ball that decided the game and my heart goes out to Waterford after such a titanic struggle. No one deserved to lose after such effort," he said.

Young Waterford 'keeper David Flavin was the man who at least four times came to his side's rescue with a string of brilliant saves that pushed this game into a stamina-sapping second period of extra time. He excelled when denying Eugene Davis and John Cervi of what seemed certain goals as St. Pat's pushed forward during the second period of normal time.

SNAP SHOT

John Cleary put St Pat's ahead after 53 minutes with a snap shot from 35 yards, after Billy Breslin had lost possession in midfield. Flavin was rooted to his line as the ball rocketed into the top left hand corner of the net.

But Waterford showed marvellous resilience, highlighted by the towering influence of Kevin Power in midfield. A gem of a pass from the midfielder put his skipper Mick Madigan through for an equaliser in the 72nd minute. It was a perfectly-hit first time goal from the edge of the area, after Madigan had seen a gap left open by Tierney and James McKeon.

Waterford continued to assert their dominance and after Power had a goal disallowed for off-

(AFTER TWO PERIODS OF EXTRA TIME)

side, Michael Bennet should really have made it safe for the visitors nine minutes from the end of normal time. A perfect through ball by O'Mahony found Michael Bennett in the clear, but for once the erratic Dave Henderson in the St. Pat's goal, did all required of him without any theatricals.

REVENGE

So to extra time, and again St. Pat's took the initiative. Flavin did well to push a Cervi shot round the post for a corner. But the tiny winger had his revenge when his cross from the right was only partially cleared. Williams had a header blocked but the ever alert Jim Mahone headed home in 94 minutes despite the despairing efforts of Hayes.

Waterford still refused to lie down and three minutes later Eamonn Coady managed to rifle home a shot

from the edge of the box after an O'Mahony free had caused panic in the St. Pat's defence.

Those initial 20 minutes of extra time had both teams in need of repairs before the further extra 20 minutes. The game looked to be heading for yet another replay at Kilcohan Park next week, when Tierney took his part in the proceedings.

With just four minutes remaining a quick throw in the right was gathered by Cervi and his cleverly-angled left foot cross from the right had the St. Pat's attackers queueing up for a chance of a goal.

Tierney was the man who soared above the leadenfooted Waterford defence to grab the winner from five yards.

Ironically Limerick

are visitors to Richmond Park next Sunday for a nothing-atstake League game — the real work comes next Wednesday with the fifth round Cup tie at the same venue.

ADMIRATION

If St. Pat's can recuperate after this marathon tie, they could give the Cup holders a difficult game. Waterford now have a season of merely fulfilling League fixtures. But in the past fortnight Alfie Hale's young team have earned everyone's admiration and the future looks bright at Kilcohan Park. Waterford should not be too downhearted with this result

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC Henderson; McKeon, Gavin, Tierney, Malone; Maher, Cleary, Davis; Maher, Hennebry, Cervi.

Subs:

Mahon for Braddish (45 min), Williams for Hennebry (90 min).

WATERFORD UNITED Flavin; O'Mahony, Gardiner, Power, Hayes; Carey, Madigan, Breslin; Jones, Bennett, Matthews.

Subs:

Coady for Jones (45 min), Sutton for Carey (61 min).

REFEREE: Sean Kinsella (Dublin).

AFTER 7 HOURS AND 16 MINUTES ...Tierney sends a header past Flavin to finally break the deadlock and send St Pat’s into the next round.

St Patrick’s A

Back row: Serge Atakayi, Adam Murphy, Sam Curtis, Mark Doyle, Darius Lipsiuc, Thijs

Middle row: Sean O'Connor, Jon Daly, Harry Brockbank, Tommy Lonergan, David Odum

Front row: Eoin Doyle, Jake Mulraney, Jamie Lennon, Tim Clancy, Joe Redmond, Alan

Athletic 2023

Timmermans, Jay McClelland and Ben McCormack. mosu, Danny Rogers, Noah Lewis, Vladislav Kreida, Pat Jennings and Sean O'Reilly. Mathews, Chris Forrester, Anto Breslin and Tom Grivosti.

Pitchside Sponsors

We would like to thank the following who have sponsored the club for the 2022 season...

Pensive Points

Ronan

O’Flaherty

Jimmy Edwards

Good Evening all,

Well let's just start by saying it's great to be back. You only realise how much you miss the Fridays under the lights when you're not here. Welcome to Ruaidrhi Higgins and all the supporters from Derry City and also a special welcomes to former Saints Brian Maher and Adam O'Reilly. Adam was a big part of the Pats team last season with his unbelievable work rate and effort. Us Pats fans were gutted when we heard Adam decided to try a new

@jimmyedwards41

challenge by signing for Derry, but I personally wish him nothing but the best (not tonight obviously.) Thanks for everything last season Adam.

Tim starts his second season in charge of the Saints and will be looking to push in and improve on our fourth place finish last season now that he is assembling a squad of players that can play in a system he wants.

Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon and Eoin Doyle will have important roles to play in the dressing room as experienced players in the dressing room especially with Ian Bermingham having retired. Jake Mulraney looks an exciting signing and one that a number of clubs in Ireland, England and Scotland were all hoping to sign, so that's a real coup. Noah Lewis and Vladislav Kreida also look like two astute signings.

Pats fans always love a good foreign player and often come up with a catchy song for each player, as I'm sure Grivosti , Timmermans and Atakayi will confirm (no pressure SEI!) Tommy Lonergan is a unbelievable signing because again Tommy had other offers from lots of other clubs in the league but he chose to come "home." I'm sure that the new players will add some steel and flair to the squad. I must say the merchandise, training kits and new jerseys look the part for this season. It's also brilliant to see a women's team will be representing the Saints this season which is very important, best of luck in your first season as Saints ladies! Here's too a successful season for all Pats teams.

Enjoy the game, Up the Saints

JAKE MULRANEY

Charlie O’Leary as old as the FAI

Seán Creedon

He said: “My first international was a friendly against Switzerland at Dalymount in September 1938, The reason I picked that game was my neighbour Paddy Bradshaw was selected at centre forward.’’

Charlie made a good choice as his neighbour made history that day on his international debut. Paddy scored twice in the 4-0 win and his first goal game came after 20 seconds, an Irish record that has survived to this day.

Having set up street leagues in his native East Wall and refereed games in nearby Fairview Park, Charlie was encouraged to referee fulltime.

The Republic of Ireland has played 596 senior internationals since 1926 and while former referee Charlie O’Leary may not have seen them all, he certainly definitely been alive for all of them.

Charlie, who was born in February 1924 was 99 earlier this month and while he didn’t start going to senior internationals until the late thirties, he was always involved in soccer and hurling.

Before soccer claimed him, hurling appealed to Charlie. He was taught in National School by Seán Feeney, who played centre field for Waterford in their 1938 All-Ireland hurling final defeat to Dublin.

Charlie won a Dublin minor hurling medal with O’Tooles against a Parnell’s team that featured another legend, Charles J. Haughey. A wood machinist by trade, Charlie made hurleys for his friends until he concentrated on the ‘beautiful game.’

‘‘I got plenty of refereeing experience in the AUL under 21 League which was a great league for developing young talent. I remember the likes of Dinny Lowry, Ronnie Whelan senior and Ginger O’Rourke playing in that league for St Patrick’s and then you had Paddy Roberts, Freddie Strahan and Joey Wilson with Shelbourne.’’

‘‘Later I was very impressed with Mick Leech when he played for Ormeau and I could never understand why it took so long for a League of Ireland club to sign him.’’

‘‘My first League of Ireland game was in Milltown for a Rovers-Dundalk game in the 1955-56 season. I remember Kieran Kenealy, a reporter with the Irish Independent, making some favourable comments about my senior debut.

Charlie said: “I’m the only referee to referee the FAI Youth Cup final, the FAI Junior Cup final, the FAI intermediate Cup final, and the FAI senior cup final.’’

Charlie celebrates with Ray Houghton at Euro 88 following the 1-0 victory over England in Stuttgart.

He was the linesman for the 1967 FAI Cup final, where Rovers beat St Patricks’ 3-2 in what was the first ever televised final. Five years later he took charge of 1972 FAI Cup final between Cork Hibs and Waterford when Miah Dennehy became the first player to score a cup final hat-trick.

“I would advise any young person to take up refereeing. I owe so much to refereeing. First of all, you get paid to keep fit. I was barely eight stone when I retired, as I was always a fitness fanatic. I learned how to control people without being aggressive, or being big-headed.”

Those people skills earned Charlie a job as a liaison officer for the FAI for visiting international teams; his first game was in February 1985 when he was asked to help out with logistics when world champions Italy came to Dublin for a friendly.

Charlie did that job for visiting teams until Jack Charlton was appointed manager in February 1986. When the Republic played Wales in Charlton’s first game in charge in March 1986 Big Jack was surprised that masseur Mick Byrne had to do everything.

O’Leary was helping the Welsh team and when Charlie went into the Irish dressing room to borrow a pump from Mick Byrne, Jack wondered aloud as to why Charlie wasn’t working for the home team. That was quickly sorted and Charlie was in the Irish dressing room for the next game against Uruguay.

He then travelled with the squad to Iceland for the Reykjavik Tournament in May 1986 which we won by beating Iceland and Czechoslovakia. It was the first-ever trophy won by a senior Irish team and captain Mick McCarthy gave his medal to Charlie.

He had wonderful times with Jack and the Irish squad and

some memorable moments at Euro ’88 and Italia ’90. ‘‘No doubt beating England 1-0 in Stuttgart in 1988 and meeting the Pope in the Vatican in 1990 were the highlights. But if you are talking about our best-ever performances, I think our second game at Euro ’88, the 1-1- draw with the USSR was the most complete.’’

Charlie is in great shape and his recall of old games and events is perfect. He is regular at the Aviva for internationals and FAI Cup finals and his regular chauffer is his son John.

Mick McCarthy consults with Charlie O'Leary, Pat Dolan and Mick Byrne at Richmond Park prior to an Irish squad training session.

Player Sponsorship 2022

HOME AWAY

Danny Rogers

Mtiscot.land

David Odumosu Lads off the Camac

Noah Lewis Lads off the Camac

Anto Breslin

Dublin 12 Saints

Joe Redmond (C) Cian Menton

Tom Grivosti

Jamie Lennon

PatsApp

Tommy Keyes

Serge Atakayi saveenergy.ie

Chris Forrester

Eoin Doyle

The Bridge House

Will Morgan

Tommy Lonergen Fynch

Jason McClelland

Harry Brockbank

Mark Doyle

Conor Carty

John Hudson

Vladislav Kreida Peter Boyle

Ben McCormack

Jake Mulraney Thompson Solicitors

Sam Curtis

Adam Murphy

Thijs Timmermans

Jay McGrath

Darius Lipsiuc

Sean McHale

Dan McHale

Anto Dodd

Jason Oyenuga

Luke O’Brien

The Malt House

The Patron Saints

Brennan

Beauty & The Beast - Siniša Mihajlović RIP

Passing away due to leukaemia on the 16th of December, the free kick specialist and manager will be missed on both sides of the Adriatic Sea.

Born in 1969 to humble beginnings in Vukovar on the now Croat/Serb border, Siniša was the eldest of two sons. His father was a truck driver and his mother worked in a shoe factory. He started his footballing career with local side NK Borovo. As word spread of the boy with the golden left boot and the fiery temper, Dinamo Zagreb monitored him closely, but ultimately declined the chance to sign him. In 1988 Mihajlović joined instead the ambitious provincial side Vojvodina Novi Sad. The move brought instant and somewhat unexpected success; the 1989 league title won by Novi Sad

is one of only five out of 46 Yugoslav League titles won by teams outside of the Big Four.

At the end of 1990, Mihajlović switched to the most established club in the country, Red Star Belgrade. Again he rode the crest of a sporting wave. Six months later, Red Star were champions of Europe. The semi final second leg was arguably his finest moment: scoring one and providing the cross for the last-minute Bayern own goal, the 2-2 draw in Belgrade putting Red Star through 4-3 on aggregate. In a less memorable nil-all final, he scored one of the penalties as Red Star beat Marseille in the shootout.

The Red Star team swiftly disbanded, as war surrounded them in the crumbling Yugoslavia. In 1992 Mihajlović moved to Serie A, playing two unremarkable seasons with AS Roma, before joining Sampdoria in 1994 and staying for four seasons.

He then followed manager Sven Göran Eriksson to Lazio in 1998. In December of that year in the first game against his old employers Sampdoria, Mihajlović completed the impossible. Free kick, just outside the D: over the wall and in. Then, 30 yards out: over the wall and squeezed in just inside the post. In the second half, the exact same goal at the other end of the pitch. An inconceivable hat trick of free kicks, he would score a record 28 frees in total during his time in Serie A.

Seán

Siniša Mihajlović while in charge of Fiorentina

Lazio at the time possessed a terrifying squad that featured, amongst several others, Diego Simeone, Juan Sebastián Verón and Pavel Nedved. Mihajlović helped them lift the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1999, followed by the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia in 2000.

Following a 2004 move to Internazionale, Mihajlović would win another Scudetto, before retiring in 2006. Inter gave him a start into management, where he worked as Assistant to former Samp and Lazio teammate Roberto Mancini. A tour of Italy followed, Mihajlović managed Bologna, led Catania to a great escape, then coached Fiorentina, the Serbia national team, Sampdoria, AC Milan, Torino, and returned to Bologna. During his tenure at Bologna, he was diagnosed with leukaemia, but continued to manage the club until September of last year.

Renowned for ugly tackles and beautiful free kicks, Siniša Mihajlović leaves behind a highly memorable career. Roberto Mancini and Dejan Stanković were amongst the pallbearers at his funeral, reflecting appropriately his biggest successes with Lazio and Red Star. He is survived by his wife Arianna (herself a former TV presenter), and their five children.

1 August 1998

Ian Gilzean of St Pat's in action against Sinisa Mihajlovic playing with Lazio during the Carlsberg Trophy match at Lansdowne Road.

A View from Afar

Ian Templeman

The opening day of the season in Major League Baseball in the USA is known as Opening Day with capital letters, and is part of US baseball tradition and culture, with many baseball fans associating it with the start of spring and treating it as an unofficial holiday.

Mid-February in Ireland is maybe a bit early to be considered as spring, and popular though the League of Ireland is, it is maybe some way off the point where the opening night of fixtures would be treated as an opportunity to celebrate it in the manner of a public holiday. None the less, there is always a feeling of anticipation as the start of the season approaches, and now the pre-season friendlies are out of the way, at last we are ready to sample some live competitive action in our own unique Opening Day of the season.

As the games get under way tonight, supporters of every club will have hopes and expectations of the season ahead, with some more optimistic than others, but as far as the Saints are concerned I really do believe there is much to be positive about as we look ahead to the 2023 season.

The feelgood factor around the club began pretty much when last season ended with that fine 4-0 win over Shelbourne, and started with the news that the club’s Head of Media Jamie Moore was named 2022 League of Ireland Press Officer of the Year at the Soccer Writers Ireland awards. A well-deserved award for the work that Jamie and the team put in during the season. Just as notable was the launch of “Saints Rising”, a fantastic book by Dermot Looney chronicling the early history of the club that I enjoyed reading over Christmas, and has been justifiably very well received.

As early as December 13th, the club confirmed that 18 players were already under contract for 2023, proof if any was needed that new foundations were being built on the already solid ones established last year. That news was followed a few days later with photos being posted on social media showing queues along Emmet Road outside number 125, as supporters came to pick up season tickets and buy merchandise just a few days before Christmas. There was still almost two months before the competitive action started, but already there was no doubt that everyone of a Saints persuasion was buoyed and enthused about prospects for the forthcoming season, and wanted to be a part of it. The latest update is that we’ve sold our highest number of season tickets ever and it's expected most games will sell out this season. The thought of Richmond rocking for every home game is an exciting one.

All of this positivity paints a very encouraging picture to bring into the 2023 campaign, even before a ball is kicked in competitive action, and I was also interested to read that the surge in interest in match day attendances is not unique to Inchicore. The FAI reported that there had been a one-third increase in League of Ireland attendances compared to prepandemic levels, and specifically here at Richmond Park, average attendances have almost doubled.

That does mean that the need for improved facilities and higher ground capacities around the league is even more urgent, and it was pleasing to hear that the need for providing modern facilities around the league is being treated very seriously by the FAI. Steps have been taken to hire an external company to

Ronan O’Flaherty

audit stadia, with a view to submitting formal proposals to the Government for financial assistance at all levels of the game, and I noted a quote from the CEO of the FAI, Jonathan Hill, who stated: "The existing facility quality continues to present challenges, and the quality of our LOI facilities is the primary issue holding back the potential to maximise attendance growth.

"We could generate more value and more interest in the LOI if we had the facilities to so do. The LOI broadcast market interest is hampered by facilities, impacting on our ability to showcase our game in the way we and our partners would like."

It’s encouraging to see such a public admission from the top of the game in this country, and hopefully the proven spectator demand for live action will help to drive the initiative forward, and in turn enable clubs to able to meet demand. If we have supporters wanting to see games but being faced with difficulties in getting tickets, that must be addressed.

In the meantime, if supporters can’t get to see live action, at least they do have an alternative and from a personal perspective, I am delighted that once again this season I and thousands of others will be able to watch all the on-field action thanks to LOITV. It really is fantastic for long distance supporters like me to able to see all the games, especially every Pats game, be it home or away. There was no obvious suggestion that the service was under threat, but it was great news none the less to hear that it is to continue for the 2023 season.

Figures quoted when this season's LOITV package was launched were very encouraging, and we were told that 35 per cent more individual game passes were sold last season than targeted. There is also a growing market for the service generally, with 34,000 new subscribers in 2022 compared to 2021.

I was slightly disappointed to hear that the highlights show on Monday has been cancelled for this season, as I thought it was a good watch, but with individual clubs being encouraged to put out their own highlights programmes instead, that could give us all an even more varied package of action to catch up on after the matchdays have taken place. I must admit I did like a highlights package that had all the goals from the weekend gathered together in one single viewing, but it will be interesting to see what the output that emerges in its place will be like.

Before closing off, can I just finish by saying it is also a great pleasure and privilege to once again be able to share my thoughts with everyone who parts with their hard-earned Euros to purchase a copy of The Saint. In an era when sales of football programmes are declining, it’s heartening to know that enough supporters buy a copy of the programme to make it sustainable, and I look forward once again to engaging with everyone during what will be my eighth season as a contributor. I have a feeling in my bones that it’s going to be an enjoyable nine months too, and it’s great that the waiting is over, the scene is set, and the league season starts here.

Bring it on - and come on you Saints!

Women’s U-17s

Sarah Tynan

New Dawn as Women's U-17 Team Prepare for Season

The women’s team has been dormant in Pat’s for many years, but it has been recently revived as the new women’s U17’s team, led by Darragh O’Reilly. No stranger to the club, he led the U17’s boys team to their first league victory in 2016. He was able to sit down with me and give a few words about his new role.

In your own words, can you give us a rundown of your management experience?

I started coaching when I was sixteen so pushing on 20 years now. I started off at locals, Skerries, Belvedere, then I went away to Mexico, came back to Belvo, went off to Thailand, came back with Pats, off to Thailand again, to the Waves, Sligo and now Pats.

How does it feel returning to Pat’s?

It was great to get the call from Ger. Leaving Sligo, I was talking to a couple of the clubs in the senior league about the manager jobs, then this came up with Pats, and Ger sold it to me as a project. It’s not just 17’s this season, the club wanted to move towards a senior team in a few years time. It was the chance to shape the first senior national league team in a

couple of years. That was the exciting part. I knew how the club runs from having worked with everyone in the past. There’s a family link there as well. My uncle used to coach with Brian Ker, so it was a really good fit. I’m delighted to be back.

You won the league with the U17’s in 2016, who were some of the best players you worked with?

I would have trained Darragh Burns, Brian Maher, I would have coached Ben McCormack as a kid with Belvo. Without being the coach of their team necessarily, Adam Murphy, Anto Dodd, as younger ones around the first team. There was a couple of others who are in the league, like Luke Keeney. Darragh Burns is probably the most eyecatching from the Pats perspective.

Can you give us a few words about the importance of the women’s team being back in Pats?

The direction that women’s football is going worldwide thankfully is starting to be the same in Ireland. Coaching women’s football going back a few years, the age groups I would have been coaching are now around the senior national team, and playing in the league. Thankfully there’s more emphasis being placed on girl’s football now. As one of the biggest clubs in the country, it's natural that Pats want to be on the top of the women’s league as well. It’s important to promote women’s sport and making sure as a nation we’re building on the growth of the game. It’s important that the big clubs like Pats are involved in it.

How have you gone about assembling the team?

The club have a link with Cherry Orchard, so we’ve got maybe six or seven of them who would have played with them previously. The lads who have been with that Cherry Orchard group, Dave Bissett, one of the coaches with me has helped a huge amount since he knows the age group, and it’s helped us identify players. I wouldn’t be as familiar with the age group as Dave and the other lads. I’ve leant on them and they’ve been brilliant with helping to get the right profile of players. We’ve approached the ones we’ve identified and managed to get a few of them in. At the moment we have a squad of fifteen, but we’re looking to get a squad of eighteen odd.

Where are the games going to be played?

We’re going to be based out of Cherry Orchard. We’re training there Monday, Wednesday, Friday and we’ll play our home games there. On Tuesday’s we do gym sessions in Blanch where the boys teams are based, keeping it as one academy.

along?

It’s good yeah, they’re a gas bunch, great players, but they’re just a great group. There’s already a bond there between them. That was part of the process of identifying them. Not just a sense of how good a player they are but their character. None of them miss training, never late, they train hard, it’s been great.

When is the season going to start?

Our league season starts on the fourth of March, friendlies each weekend up to that. We’re playing DLR Waves in our first match.

the upcoming season?

We’re realistic, we’re not going into it thinking we’re going to sweep the board, but we think we’ll be competitive. For most of them it’s their first time playing national league, so there’s going to be a transition period, but we’ll build on it year on year.

Who’s Who at The Saint?

Like so many other things on match night, it takes considerable effort to compile the issue of The Saint you’re viewing. So who’s who?

RUAIRI KAVANAGH: EDITOR

Works with the club, contributors and designers ato deliver each issue. Apart from that he specialises in getting randomers to come along to their first Pats game. This tactic has yielded a 100% win ratio to date.

JOE O’ROURKE: DESIGNER

Part of the All Saints Show, having previously designed the club murals among other things Joe has spearheaded the redesign of The Saint and was a major reason for us being named Programme of the Year. Thanks Joe!

PAT O’CALLAGHAN

Long club serving historian and programme curator. Pat has been involved with the club and the programme for decades. He’s also one of the friendly faces you encounter when entering the ground to buy your programme.

JIMMY

EDWARDS

Following on from his father's (of the same name) 30 years of writing for the programme, Jimmy Edwards (Junior) continues the Pensive Points tradition.

JOHN

OWENS

Statto supreme, we reckon he has shares in Microsoft Excel. An incredible range of knowledge, John was way too modest when he once described himself as just a ‘guy with a few spread sheets!’.

IAN

TEMPLEMAN

Our foreign correspondent. Writes, with considerable eloquence, from the UK with his observations on our league and particularly the Saints. Ever reliable, always has his copy in first.

RONAN O’FLAHERTY

Journalist with a passion for Pats, Ronan comes from good Saints stock, as his surname might suggest. Ever the optimist Ronan can put a positive slant on the most dismal run of form. We know, we gave him plenty of opportunities last season!

KIERAN COUGHLAN

When not found on the Camac, Kieran is to be found finding inventive ways to torture Saints fans with his fiendishly tricky questions.

SEÁN BRENNAN

Seán is a full time languages teacher in Dublin a part time writer on football culture and cooking. He has been following St Pats since the early noughties and Serie A since the late nineties. A former resident of France, UK and Germany, he enjoys train journeys, radio, pasta and everything with the prefix ‘Euro-‘.

SEAN CREEDON

A Kerryman living in Dublin... a long time. He has been attending League of Ireland and Republic of Ireland home games for over 50 years. Interested in all sports, but mainly GAA, Soccer and Rugby. A member of the Soccer Writers’ Association. Writes on LOI and international matters.

SARAH TYNAN

Sarah has been a keen follower of the Saints since she was 6, getting to most games home and away and even the odd European adventure. She’s delighted to add a bit of youth and much needed diversity to the programme team.

EOGHAN GARDINER

From Palmerstown, Eoghan covers opposition analysis for The Saint. He has a background in media and communications, and can usually be found in Section G on matchday.

JONATHAN CONNELLY

Jonathan has been a fan of the club all his life. Going to games ever since I was a young child, he's delighted to be taking his first steps in volunteering for the club by reporting for The Saint.

The Future is Bright

Jonathan Connelly

The Saint talks to St Patrick’s Athletic Director of Football Ger O’Brien about what to expect from one of the country’s best football academies

Ger is a former St Patrick’s Athletic captain, winning the league with the club in 2013 and leading us to cup glory in 2014, ending over half a century of FAI Cup Final heartache for the Saints.

The Saints Academy is well renowned is being one of the best in the country, and there is no denying that we have seen some great talents come through in the past few seasons. Sam Curtis and Adam Murphy are the first names that come to mind, breaking into the senior team in 2022, showing the success of the youth squads. Former St Pats player Darragh Burns

youth ranks before bursting

The Under 19 team had a year to remember in 2022.

“Managed by Seán Niall Cully, the side managed to win the league title fashion. The title was clinched following a 2-0 win against

second place Shelbourne on the 15th of October. It wasn’t to be in the cup as a 1-0 loss to Bohemians in the final denied the Saints of the double. Going into 2023 it should be another great year for the lads,” says Ger.

For the first time, we have an underage women’s team, which will enter the Under 17s league. “Managed by Darragh O’Reilly, Dave Bissett and Izzy Connolly, they will be looking to bring success to the side as they grow into the senior team in a few years’ time,” he adds.

The under-15s are managed by Alan Reidy, Ian Cully and Ciarán Creagh. The side are hoping to improve on 2022, after a sixth-place finish in the league.

“We also have a new Under 14s team, for players born in 2009. This side will be managed by Jamie Moore and Keith Treacy. Hopefully we can see another successful side in our hands for the club,” says Ger.

“We’ve got five underage teams in action throughout what will be an eventful and action-packed season. We would love to see as many Pats fans as possible coming to the academy games, which we play in Blanchardstown most of the time, but you can keep up to date on what’s happening with the academy teams at www.stpatsfc.com and on the club’s social media channels.”

Results & Lineouts 2022

Apps, Goals & Table 2022