Buckley upbeat despite cup exit

St. Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley was optimistic about the season to come despite his side’s 3-1 loss to Bray Wanderers on Saturday night, a loss that sees them exit this year’s Leinster Senior Cup at the first hurdle.

A stunning comeback from Mick Cooke’s side saw the Seagulls turn around a 1-0 deficit to end the night with the win thanks to a brace from Ryan Brennan, topped off by a well taken finish from fellow new signing Dean Kelly.

The Saints had taken the lead after 29 minutes when David Cawley combined with Christy Fagan on the perimeter of the Bray penalty area. The ball inched toward Conan Byrne along the right wing to provide a low cross that beat all inside the danger zone bar new signing Billy Dennehy who slid it home for his first goal for his new club.

The Inchicore side looked dangerous in long periods throughout a first half that they dominated but ultimately they disintegrated following two well taken Ryan Brennan strikes into each goal’s bottom corner either side of half time; the first no less than three minutes after the visitors took the lead.

Former Shamrock Rovers, Bohs and Longford striker Dean Kelly ensured the win with twenty-five minutes remaining when he dragged a cutting shot across Conor O’Malley to ping off the inside of the post and in.

“Listen it’s still pre-season for us”, said Saints boss Liam Buckley afterwards. “It was a competitive game which puts an edge on it but from where we’re at we are a month into our pre-season.

"We’ve a couple of weeks left as preparation for Galway and the bottom line from where we’re at is focussing on Galway because that’s the start of our season.”

“I don’t think there was a lot between us in the match – Bray hadn’t that many more chances than we had. They took their goals better than we did and we were poor defensively from that end.

“That said it was a good workout. We had quite a few of our squad playing this evening and we’ve still got a few to bring in bearing in mind those missing. But overall it was a good workout from where we’re at.”

His side now turn their immediate attention on this season’s Premier Division opener against Galway United.

The sides last met on a dramatic final day of the 2015 SSE Airtricity League campaign when a 1-0 win secured European football for St. Pats at a time when Bohemians were threatening their streak of six consecutive years in European competition.

The scorer of that decisive goal was former forward Aaron Greene who on Friday agreed terms to join Limerick FC following one and a half seasons at Richmond Park, with manager Buckley wishing the 26-year-old the best for the season to come at the Markets Field.

“Look he was great for us,” said Buckley. “He’s a lovely lad and we’ll wish him well. I’ve no doubt he will do well for Limerick and I’ve no doubt that they will do well bearing in mind where they are at with the group that they have down there. But they’ll obviously be favourites to get out of the First Division.”

Filling his place of sorts will now be former Cork City attacker Billy Dennehy who scored his first goal in his first competitive start for St. Pat’s.

The goal encompassed all facets of classic St. Patrick’s Athletic passing, fluid football but manager Buckley conceded that their play on Saturday night was dictated by the terms of the Carlisle Grounds turf.

“Billy did fine, but ultimately the pitch wasn’t great in relation to how we were trying to play. We do try and pass the ball but when you’re trying to do it on a pitch like that it just negates the whole scenario. Down in Richmond Park we play a hell of a lot better because of the pitch and it allows us to play.

“When you’re playing passes to feet and the ball is bouncing all over the place it does not help. From a confidence point of view you don’t want to be getting on the ball as much as you should be. That said Bray managed better than we did and they’ve got the result.”

Saturday was the Saints’ fourth game since pre-season began, but a host of missing players were evident as Lee Desmond, Mark Timlin, Sean Hoare and Jason McGuinness remain sidelined. However their manager insists all will be back training in the coming weeks and days ahead.

“There’s still one or two little knocks and niggles that you get in pre-season. Mark Timlin has a little knock and Lee Desmond and Sean Hoare should both be in training by tomorrow.

"Injuries will affect us going forward and that’s why you will need a whole squad because there’s so many games especially with Europe, which could add on two or four matches if you get through a round.

“Overall we’ll be disappointed we lost, but it’s not the end of the world.”