General
- Friday November 2nd, 2012 @ 12:05
Saints Rallying Call
The clock is ticking till Sunday's FAI Cup final between St Pat's and Derry City and for Conor Kenna, the game can't come round quick enough.
For Kenna, the Saints' skipper for the past two seasons and with over 100 appearances for the club, the opportunity to lead out the Inchicore side at the Aviva Stadium on FAI Cup final day is something that he is looking forward to.
Since the Saints earned their place in the final last month against Dundalk, Kenna admits that it had been difficult to avoid the Cup hysteria which has surrounded the club recently, however now that the game is just on the horizon, the players can finally focus on the job at hand.
“The last few games were tough as it's always hard to put a cup final to the back of your mind. All the time, even as players and fans, it was always there on our minds,” Kenna admitted to stpatsfc.com.
“The great thing about last Friday's win against Cork was that we got the result required and ensured European football for next season.
More importantly though, once the game was over, that was the league season completed and we could then focus and concentrate on winning the cup.
That has been the case all this week and now we are aiming to go out and make a good day of it.”
Great past Pats' captains such as John McDonnell, Paul Osam and Colm Foley have all suffered the heartbreak of losing an FAI Cup final in recent times, but for Kenna, whose family are all from Inchicore, this year could be different and the fact that he could be the man to lift the FAI Cup since Tommy Dunne in 1961.
“Yeah obviously it would be great for me as captain, but also my family is from Inchicore and they're always telling that I could be the one to lift the trophy.
So if that's the way it's meant to be, then it's meant to be.
Either way, we'll go out and try our best and win the game.”
Come 5.30pm on Sunday evening, all Saints' fans will be hoping that Kenna is the man seen from the main stand of the Aviva stadium facing the Pats' supporters and raising the FAI Cup.
Don't miss out on Sunday's final!
Click here for details on Club Office opening hours to get your tickets for St Pats vs Derry City in Sunday's FAI Cup final
