Mahon hoping for Euro progression
Credit:
It’s been a hectic season to date for St Patrick’s Athletic but nobody could say the Inchicore club hasn’t risen to the challenges. They currently lie only four point off the summit of the table with a game in hand over the three teams ahead of them. Indeed Pat’s, who have already occupied top spot and have only been beaten once at home all season, will be confident of maintaining a strong challenge for the remainder of the season.
But in recent times, domestic matters have played second fiddle to the club’s run in the Europa League Qualifiers. Having already dispatched Icelandic side IBV in the first round, Pete Mahon’s men came away with a crucial away goal in a 2-1 defeat to Kazakhstani side Shakther Kargendy last Friday night in Round 2 of the Qualifiers.
The manager knows while the tie is far from done and dusted, the away goal gives his charges an enormous opportunity to progress to the next round of qualifiers. Speaking to ExtraTime.ie, Mahon revealed it was all still very much to play for.
He said: “We’re in a good position in the sense we have the away goal but it’s going to be a very difficult match. There can’t be any sense of false security on our part going into the game. What we have to do is try not give away an early goal.”
Reflecting on the first leg which involved a huge journey to the far side of the continent, Mahon was keen to praise his players’ efforts. “My hopes were just to get through the game and keep the tie alive for the return leg”, he revealed. “And that’s how it has panned out. And for that, our players deserve great credit and recognition.”
“When I take off my red and white glasses, I can safely say I think it was one of the best performances by an Irish side away in Europe.”
Mahon will have a full squad to choose from for the match which carries a €90,000 carrot for whichever side progresses. That means Danny North should feature after missing the first leg with a hamstring strain while Dave Mulcahy, Shane Guthrie and Conor Kenna are all in contention having watched the first leg from the bench.
The manager is in buoyant humour ahead of Thursday’s game and it’s clear he believes his team are capable of sustaining challenges on both the domestic and European front. He concludes optimistically: “I’m just hoping we’ll get through the game, and get another game because we want to stay in this competition as long as we can. The draws haven’t been kind to us but we’ll give it our best as we always do.”
“We know it’s not going to be easy but we have to be confident playing at home. And playing the way we have been playing we will certainly try and pose them a few problems.”
You certainly can’t question the willingness to succeed but only time will tell whether Pat’s do indeed have the correct mentality and perhaps more importantly strength in depth to continue their impressive recent form.
But in recent times, domestic matters have played second fiddle to the club’s run in the Europa League Qualifiers. Having already dispatched Icelandic side IBV in the first round, Pete Mahon’s men came away with a crucial away goal in a 2-1 defeat to Kazakhstani side Shakther Kargendy last Friday night in Round 2 of the Qualifiers.
The manager knows while the tie is far from done and dusted, the away goal gives his charges an enormous opportunity to progress to the next round of qualifiers. Speaking to ExtraTime.ie, Mahon revealed it was all still very much to play for.
He said: “We’re in a good position in the sense we have the away goal but it’s going to be a very difficult match. There can’t be any sense of false security on our part going into the game. What we have to do is try not give away an early goal.”
Reflecting on the first leg which involved a huge journey to the far side of the continent, Mahon was keen to praise his players’ efforts. “My hopes were just to get through the game and keep the tie alive for the return leg”, he revealed. “And that’s how it has panned out. And for that, our players deserve great credit and recognition.”
“When I take off my red and white glasses, I can safely say I think it was one of the best performances by an Irish side away in Europe.”
Mahon will have a full squad to choose from for the match which carries a €90,000 carrot for whichever side progresses. That means Danny North should feature after missing the first leg with a hamstring strain while Dave Mulcahy, Shane Guthrie and Conor Kenna are all in contention having watched the first leg from the bench.
The manager is in buoyant humour ahead of Thursday’s game and it’s clear he believes his team are capable of sustaining challenges on both the domestic and European front. He concludes optimistically: “I’m just hoping we’ll get through the game, and get another game because we want to stay in this competition as long as we can. The draws haven’t been kind to us but we’ll give it our best as we always do.”
“We know it’s not going to be easy but we have to be confident playing at home. And playing the way we have been playing we will certainly try and pose them a few problems.”
You certainly can’t question the willingness to succeed but only time will tell whether Pat’s do indeed have the correct mentality and perhaps more importantly strength in depth to continue their impressive recent form.
About Sam Griffin
Sam joined Extratime for the 2011 season and is now the site's features editor. He is based in Dublin and covers all the clubs in the capital. He is also prone to the odd Drogheda … View Full Profile