Buckley delight at Pats 2nd Round win over Hoops

Liam Buckely watched on from the home dugout in Richmond Park as his side began the defence of their Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup with a second round victory over local rivals Shamrock Rovers on Friday evening, after the game Buckley spoke to Extratime.ie about his sides’ performance.

“I’m delighted with the result, it’s a cup tie you have to win I thought we played quite well. Obviously going in at halftime 2-0 was a great position but I’m delighted with the effort the lads gave, its important in the cup that you try and get through in the tie. It was always going to be difficult, Rovers have a top squad so it’s a great result from our point of view.”

After two well taken goals, Buckley explains that he was happy that his side didn’t decide to rest on their laurels after taking the lead in the 32nd minute.

“Conan Byrne’s goal was a great finish from his end of it side foot from just outside the box around the keeper and Jason McGuinness decent header from a corner, we were at it in fairness to the lads they [St pats players] worked hard and Rovers pushed us in the second half, they scored with nine minutes to go and it was always going to be a bit nervy after that but I thought we held on well and had a couple of chances, one on ones where their goalkeeper[Craig Hyland] made some great saves but overall I’m delighted with the performance and more importantly delighted with the result.”

Despite Friday’s result there was some worrying moments for Liam Buckley when first Christy Fagan was replaced early in the second half, while Conan Byrne limped of the park inside the final 15 minutes, Buckley explains that Fagan’s substitution was a precaution but Byrnes the extent injury will not become clear till after the weekend.

“Christy Fagan just had that tinnitus in his knee so we just need to mind that, while Conan Byrne will be out for a few weeks, I don’t know how long that will be we’ll assess that on Monday and if it’s two or three weeks we’ll be disappointed to lose him.”

After the win against Shamrock Rovers attention now turns back to the SSE Airtricity League as the Saints make the trip to the Brandywell to play Derry City, Buckley is full aware that Dundalk are currently in control of the league but it is important that St Pats take it one game at a time.

“After today’s win we just have to take it one game at a time from our end of it, obviously  Dundalk are in a tremendous position, but we’ve a top three spot to play for which Guarantees you Europe for next season so obviously that's got to be our ambition.”