Lynch targets climb up the table

Damien Lynch knows that St. Patrick’s Athletic have a lot of ground to make up if they are to jump up a few places into the top half of the Premier Division table.

The Super Saints were happy to be distracted by an extended European run, but when that ended with defeat to Steaua Bucharest, the focus quickly switched back to their inconsistent league form.

Jeff Kenna’s side have only won nine games in the top flight this season, which explains why they are lingering in the mid-table positions.

Lynch, who recently recovered from a niggling injury, hopes that the Inchicore club can start putting some wins together as they look to move up a few places and challenge for a European spot.

“The European thing was great while we had it. Everyone knew that it was a bonus, but when it finishes the cold hard day sets in,” said Lynch.

“We look at the table now and we’re not in a position that we’re overly happy with.

“From our point of view, we just need to start getting wins on the table.

“Dundalk are ahead of us, Galway are ahead of us, and we need to start trying to catch them as soon as possible.”

With the bulk of the St. Pat’s squad out of contract at the end of season, the remaining months of the campaign acts as a chance for players to prove their worth.

Even though Lynch is not focusing on winning a new deal, he does acknowledge that the team’s performances need to improve and if that acts as a motivating tool for his team-mates then he won’t complain.

“Every game you go out now, you analyse and see how you do. Everybody is up at the end of the year, so you just have to go out and play for yourself,” explained the ex-Drogheda United man.

“It is not really an issue with a lot of players, because you go out and play no matter what situation you are in.

“I know from my own point of view, it doesn’t matter if I’m out of contract or in contract I’ll play to the same standards that I’ve set myself. It is not really an issue I’ve thought about much.”