General
- Friday June 23rd, 2017 @ 18:18
TEAM NEWS: Limerick Vs Saints (Saturday, 6.30pm)
St Patrick's Athletic face Limerick on Saturday evening as they look to claim the three points in the Markets Field (kick-off 6.30pm).
The Saints return to the Markets Field following their EA Sports Cup Final triumph in the same venue last September when they defeated the Blues 4-1 thanks to goals from Pat's players including Christy Fagan, Conan Byrne and Graham Kelly.
The Saints are boosted by the return of Gavin Peers, Michael Barker and Patrick Cregg from suspension having missed last week's game against Bohemians. On the injury front, manager Liam Buckley remains without Darren Dennehy through injury while attacker Kurtis Byrne faces a late fitness test.
Speaking ahead of the game, St Pat's assistant manager Ger O'Brien spoke to stpatsfc.com about the threat Limerick pose. "We're expecting a tough game on Saturday against Limerick."
"We'd a really tight game against them earlier in the season, so I'd expect nothing different again. We've mixed memories of Markets Field in recent times as we've lost up there before, but also claimed silverware down there last year so we'll travel there hopeful that we can come away with a result."
For winger Conan Byrne, the Saints' current league position is something he feels can be turned around so long as the players stay positive and focused on the job at hand in lifting the side out of the relegation zone.
"The mood is still very strong in the group. We cannot let our heads drop as if we do that we'll struggle even more. We know our strengths, but we just have to work on our weaknesses and improve on them. The second half against Bohemians was disappointing between our general play and individual mistakes so if we can rectify those things, we can start picking up points."
On facing Limerick, Byrne was keen to emphasise his personal goal to play a key role at the weekend citing his penalty miss against the Shannonsiders earlier in the season as something which he was keen to make up for.
"It's going to be an interesting game as both sides are in need of the points. They've been entertaining games between us over recent years so I'd expect more of the same on Saturday evening," Byrne told stpatsfc.com
"I've a bit more of a personal ambition to get the three points due to my penalty miss in Richmond Park which cost us a point, if not possibly three. I'll be going there with a positive attitude like I always do in every game and hopefully we can put in a good performance and get three points."
