‘It’s just how you bounce back, it’s a character test’ – O’Donnell
By Daire Walsh
AFTER suffering their first major set-back in this season’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division last weekend, St Patrick’s Athletic will be looking to make a statement of intent against Drogheda United at Head In The Game Park tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Following a run of nine games without defeat, the Saints lost out in the cruellest of fashion at Richmond Park on Saturday.
Indeed, on level terms with champions Shamrock Rovers deep into second-half stoppage-time – Chris Forrester and Graham Burke having traded goals in the opening period – Danny Mandroiu struck late on to give the visitors all three points.
It was a difficult one to take, but St Patrick’s head coach Stephen O’Donnell already had his sights on the impending trip to Drogheda within minutes of the final whistle in Inchicore.
“We just need to kick on. Our reaction is going to define us. We’ve had the other end of it. Scoring a late equaliser on Monday [against Sligo Rovers] and we conceded a late goal today.
“It’s just how you bounce back, it’s a character test,” O’Donnell acknowledged when speaking to the St Pat’s social media channel in the aftermath of the Rovers game.
“I’ve no doubt, with the individuals and the characters we have in the dressing room, that we’ll bounce back, train well and we’ll bring it into the Drogheda game.”
While it is a results business, O’Donnell and team manager Alan Mathews always have their eye on the bigger picture. Whereas the latter felt their performance in a recent 3-0 victory over Longford Town was one of the weakest to date, O’Donnell was pleased with large aspects of their display against Rovers.
“Obviously we got off to a very good start. First 15 or so, I thought we were good. Lost a grip of the game as the first half went on. Lacked a little bit of composure and obviously went in at the break 1-1.
“I thought the second half we totally dominated, I thought we were by far the better team. Obviously just got killed by a little sucker punch at the end, but really happy with the second half performance. Lots of positives to take from it.”
In their 11th game of the current campaign, Pat’s will be facing a Drogheda side that have been enjoying a productive return to the top-flight.
Last Saturday’s emphatic 7-0 triumph at the expense of Waterford – who were forced to field their Under 19 squad due to a Covid outbreak within the first team set-up – moved them up to fifth in the table.
They pushed Pat’s to the limit when the two sides met at Richmond Park back on March 27, with a dramatic Billy King goal in the dying minutes eventually propelling the Saints to a 2-1 win.
A native of Knocklyon, Dane Massey (a five-time Premier Division winner at Dundalk) contributed a brace of goals for Drogheda on their last day out and has settled in well since his arrival in the off-season.