Buckley wary of Glentoran threat

Speaking ahead of his St Patrick’s Athletic side’s upcoming Setanta Cup ties against Glentoran, manager Liam Buckley knows only too well the danger they will pose to his side. The Glens are currently sitting mid-table in the league but the Pats boss believes his team will need to be at their best to advance.

“I was up watching them against Portadown last weekend and they beat them 1-0 and played very well on a difficult pitch in tough conditions which shows the threat they have,” said Buckley. “They have a game in hand in the league which if they win could put them up into the top four and I think they are also over the worst of their financial problems.

“They are a good side and pass the ball well so we won’t be taking them lightly at all that is for sure.”

The former Sporting Fingal boss also said that his side are much better equipped this year than last year to put together a good run in this tournament after their first round exit last time out against Cliftonville.

“Last year we had a brand new squad put together and brought 15 new players in before the start of the season and they were only together a few weeks. So we are back early already and getting ready [for this tournament] and we are a lot more prepared for the Setanta Cup this year than last year. It is a very important competition because it is an all Ireland one and we want to do well in it just like all of the teams.”

When asked though if the early elimination last year and the fact that Pats have yet to win the tournament, the closest they came was a final defeat to Bohemians in 2010, would be an extra incentive, the man in charge at Richmond Park does not think that it will be too much of a factor.

“Is it an extra incentive? No, not particularly,” he said. “We want to do as well as we can do for our sake. Last year we were in the running for both the league and the FAI Cup going into the end of the season and in the end we just came up short.

“We have prepared well for the Setanta Cup this year and the new players added to the squad are all looking forward to it and the same goes for the lads already here because they all want to do well in it.”

Buckley also revealed that only midfielders Jake Kelly and Greg Bolger are potential injury doubts for his side, both with thigh strains, and he is unsure whether or not they will be fit for the first game in Inchicore on Monday ahead of the return leg at The Oval a week later. Aside from that though, he has a full squad to choose from.