Buckley delighted to reach final

After seeing his side progress to the FAI Cup final following a three goal victory over Dundalk at Oriel Park, St. Patrick's Athletic boss Liam Buckley was understandably in a joyous mood. Speaking to Extratime.ie, the manager spoke of his delight at reaching the final, his second in three years, and praised the work done by everyone in the club to make it happen.

"Delighted. Great effort from the lads right throughout the season and it's just reward for them. They have a final next month now we have to try go and win it now. It's not down to me. It's down to the effort that all the staff, the players and the board have put in.

"The supporters have been fantastic over the season and have travelled to everywhere we've been. To Dalymount, Sligo, to here (Oriel Park) this afternoon. There was probably 5-800 of our own here. I'm delighted with everyone connected with the club, the whole history with the Cup as well. Hopefully we can create our own little bit of history."

Going to Oriel Park is always a tricky assignment and the former Sporting Fingal manager knows that only too well, even more so for an FAI Cup semi-final. 

"The semi-finals are probably the worst kind of games to play in because there is so much to win and so much to lose in them. That said, we are delighted to just get the result. These games are just about winning them. It's difficult up here too with the pitch, it does take a bit of a bounce. We just had to take it as it was and get the result and fair play to the lads, they went and done that."

The win means that the Saints are challenging on two fronts going into the final stretch of the season however Buckley quickly warned that they could end up with nothing and highlighted the importance of next weekend's top-of-the-table clash with Sligo Rovers.

"Listen, we could end up with nothing. If you said to me with four games to go we'd be in with a chance in both competitions - the league and the Cup - I would have taken the hand off you. We play Sligo next Saturday. It's a huge game for both clubs. If we win it, we are back in the mix to some degree being three points behind with two games to go. If they beat us, I will be the first person to shake their hand and say well done."

When Liam Buckley spoke to Extratime.ie last March in Oriel Park, he said that his intention for the season was to qualify for Europe and compete at the upper echelons in the league table. Having achieved both of that, Buckley is satisfied with the season he's had and was quick to put it down to the ambition of his squad of players.

"We were looking to qualify for Europe. That was the main aim and I think we've done that. We're still in the mix for honours with a few games left now. We still don't know what we'll end up with but it has been great so far. This year they've done really well and fair play to the players. They've been so ambitious and have accepted the challenge thrown in front of them and roll on the next 3-4 games."