St. Patrick's Athletic 1 - 1 Valletta FC

Debut boy Declan O’Brien marked his St. Patrick’s Athletic debut with a fine first-half goal, but a Gilbert Agius leveller for Valetta FC in a lively UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round 1st leg sees the tie evenly poised at one all ahead of next week’s return leg.

The Stadium of Light was in full voice from the off tonight but an inept second half display saw Pat’s fans once again walk away from the famous old ground feeling despondent.

There was a real sense of purpose about Pat’s players in the warm up, while their Maltese counterparts effortlessly stroked the ball around the Inchicore turf, a clash of styles already seemingly apparent.

When the game got started a clash of styles is exactly what transpired and Pat’s high energy start saw them threaten down the Valetta right twice in the first five minutes through Ryan Guy and Alan Cawley respectively.

Jordi Cruyff was directing the traffic from the centre of a five man defence for the team from Malta, although it only served to allow Pat’s totally dominate possession in the centre of the park and they wasted little time in getting the ball into the opposition penalty area.

A sustained period of possession saw midfielder Bobby Ryan fizz a shot just wide on 15 minutes and Stuart Byrne did likewise moments later.

The game then took on a somewhat feistier edge as the Valetta goalkeeper, Andrew Hogg, frustrated the home support by taking as long as he possibly could over each and every goal kick and one or two unsavoury off-the-ball incidents did nothing to quell the Dublin crowd’s displeasure.

Valetta’s attempts to bore the Richmond Park crowd into submission appeared to be working as the pre-match fervour had totally capitulated and the game looked to be heading towards half-time scoreless, or so it seemed.

Full-back Stephen Maher then went on one of his pacy bursts down the right wing on 37 and crossed for the on-rushing Gareth O’Connor, who unfortunately slipped on the wet turf, yet his apparent aberration only served to redirect the ball perfectly to the feet of debut boy O’Brien who did exactly what he was brought to the club to do as he finished emphatically on the slide. In truth, the loanee had done little until that point but his finish was enough to see his new side take a one-nil lead into the half-time break.

Valetta showed slightly more enterprise upon the restart and giant target man Gijsbertus den Ouden was unlucky to see his powerful effort fly over on 53. And so the game opened up, with both sides looking dangerous in attack, the game took on a more expansive dimension.

While the Maltese team’s new found attacking approach had to be commended; holding, raised studs behind the referee’s back and leading with elbows was happening far too regularly to have been accidental and was causing Saint’s manager Jeff Kenna great ire on the touchline.

Kenna’s distaste for what he was seeing from the opposition then turned quickly to his own team on 65 minutes as den Ouden was allowed the freedom of the Pat’s penalty area to turn Enda Stevens and pull the ball back to his unmarked captain Gilbert Agius to sidefoot home; despite Gary Rogers’ best attempts, the ball crept in.

Pat’s response was to throw on Glenn Fitzpatrick in place of Bobby Ryan but rather than regain the lead they very nearly went a goal behind when Rogers had to brilliantly tip over Jamie Pace’s exquisite left foot volley.

Both sides then began to go for the winner as first den Ouden blazed wildly over when well placed for Valetta and then Alan Cawley’s deft chip sneaked agonisingly over Hogg’s crossbar to the dismay of the home team.

The inevitable late surge came from Kenna’s men but, as they tired, their finally ball became sloppy and any sort of creative spark was at a premium. Valetta and their coach Nicky Sablia got exactly what they came for and Pat’s were left to rue yet another disappointing result in a season of many.

St. Patrick's Ath: Gary Rogers; Stephen Maher, Dave Partridge, Jamie Harris (c), Enda Stevens; Bobby Ryan (Glen Fitzpatrick 71), Stuart Byrne, Alan Cawley, Garreth O’Connor; Ryan Guy, Declan O’Brien.
Subs Not Used: Brendan Clarke, Kyle Moran, Noel Haverty, Andy Haran, Darragh Ryan.

Valletta: Andrew Hogg, Rod Briffa, Luke Dimech, Ken Scicluna, Steve Bezzina; Jamie Pace, Jordi Cruyff, Gilbert Agius, Njongo Priso, Dyson Falzon (Ian Zammit 77), Geert den Ouden (Edmund Agius 90).
Subs not Used: Nicholas Vella (gk), Stefan Giglio, Dylan Grima, Steve Borg, Justin Grioli.

Referee: Andrejs Sipailo (Latvia)

Attendance: 2,000 (estimate)

Man of the match: Gareth O’Connor (St Patrick's Ath) - always used the ball cleverly, worked hard and supplemented his side’s attack purposefully.