General
- Thursday September 12th, 2019 @ 15:30
PREVIEW: Saints Vs UCD (Friday, 7.45pm)
St Patrick's Athletic host UCD on Friday night as Stephen O'Donnell takes charge of the Saints in his first home game at Richmond Park in the SSE Airtricty League (kick-off 7.45pm).
The Saints head into the game off the back of a 2-1 win away to Finn Harps which saw the Saints come from a goal down thanks to goals from midfielders Darragh Markey and Rhys McCabe, while a win on Friday will move the Saints into fourth position in the SSE Airtricity League table.
Tickets for the game are available for purchase online, with adult tickets €15, and children U12 €5 - student and OAP tickets are availabe on match night only.
In team news, Pat's are boosted by the return of striker Mikey Drennan from suspension.
For Saints' first team head coach O'Donnell, last week's result in Ballybofey and the application of the players on display since his appointment is something he has been impressed with.
"It was a very good win as it is always a tough place to go and considering we were 1-0 down at half-time, the boys showed great character and desire to get back in the game," O'Donnell told stpatsfc.com.
"The boys started the second half on the front foot, managed to get two goals and were able to manage the game really well bar one or two long throws at the end."
"There is no replicating a match night, you see it there when the lights are on and there is a crowd at a game. I was really happy with all the players last Friday, everyone involved and everyone who has been training to date too, as well as the players' workrate and desire so long may that continue."
Looking ahead to facing the Students on Friday, O'Donnell outlined that the players are fully aware of the threats UCD will pose them, while the Galwegian also admitted to being excited at his first game in charge in Inchicore.
"I'm really looking forward to my first game in Richmond on Friday. UCD are a really dangerous team and have a lot of good players in attacking areas, so that is one thing we have to be guarded against. We have to give them total respect. They still created a lot of chances against Sligo last Saturday in the cup, and it's only a few weeks ago that they knocked us out in the FAI cup too so that won't be out of the players heads and they will know what they are capable of."
For midfielder Rhys McCabe, the aim is simple as he outlined that the players were keen for a reversal in fortunes against UCD following the Saints' exit to the Students in the Extra.ie FAI Cup around three weeks ago.
"It was one of the most disappointing results of the season, especially given the chance we had to try and make a statement in the cup," McCabe admitted to stpatsfc.com. when reflecting on the 3-0 defeat to UCD. "But it's all about the reaction now so I guess it is kind of in the back of our minds that we kind of owe them one now. But look it's important that we apply ourselves properly, train well in the build-up and make sure that we're ready on Friday to try and correct a wrong."
