St. Patrick's Athletic
Credit:
After another season which promised so much, but ended fruitless, St. Patrick's Athletic remain a constant stalwart in the League of Ireland. Having finished 4th and 5th respectively in the last two campaigns, new manager Liam Buckley will be looking to bridge the gap that separates the Saints from the elite.
Indeed, we find ourselves in a position to do that this forthcoming season due to great work done by Pete Mahon over the last two and a half years. Having originally been hired to replace Jeff Kenna, Mahon guided the Saints to safety in 2009. Although hitting the lofty heights of the Europa League this season, Mahon may feel disappointed leaving the club having failed to capture a major trophy under his tenure. Granted, the success in the Leinster Cup, overcoming Bohs in Dalymount was sweet , not forgetting to mention the youth of that side which we will look to for the new season.
Our League form varied throughout the course of the season. The loss of Conor Kenna early on hindered us, although ever-present and Player of the Year Evan McMillan shined throughout. The dual strike force of Daryl Kavanagh and 19-goal man Danny North were key to success which we enjoyed.
With 2011 marking 50 years without an FAI Cup success, our failure in the semi final at home to First Division Shelbourne will be looked back upon as a missed opportunity. The harsh dismissal of Gary Rogers was the undoubted turning point of a game which looked to be going the way of the Saints after an early Dave McMillan goal. However, it was not to be, as our ill-fated relationship with the Cup continued.
However, hope springs eternal. The re-appointment of Liam Buckley will hopefully bring an exciting brand of football to the banks of the Camac. As seems to be an annual event, the League of Ireland swap shop is in full flow as squads look to be finalised. The losses of Gary Rogers and Danny North in particular will need to be replaced. The return of long-time Saint Brendan Clarke to Inchicore will prove to be a great acquisition. With rumours of who may or may not be signing, it is very easy to get excited. The return of Trevor Croly following his stint with Shamrock Rovers has been hugely understated in the midst of all the transfer dealings. A man of proven success and quality, he will be an able assistant to Liam Buckley.
With the two Rovers looking like the ones to beat, many fans, including myself, would happily take some Cup success and a mid-table finish. We seem to lag during the middle of the season and this is something which I feel the new management team will need to address. Replacing Danny North, as well as the integration of young players mixed with a blend of experienced campaigners like Sean O’Connor will hopefully prove to be a recipe for success. Counting down the Friday nights.
Darragh Farrelly, St. Patrick's Athletic fan.
