Saints closing in on European Football
By Daire Walsh
ST PATRICK’S Athletic will be looking to take a big step towards securing European football when they face Longford Town in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at Bishopsgate tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.30pm).
The Saints come into this game on the back of an excellent spell on the domestic front.
Having sealed a place in next month’s FAI Cup decider with a 3-1 semi-final victory against Dundalk at Richmond Park last Friday, Stephen O’Donnell’s side had the measure of the same opposition in a league clash at the Inchicore venue three days later.
While success in the Cup would guarantee a Europa Conference League spot, Pat’s will have their sights set on qualifying for the 2022/23 edition of that competition in advance of their showpiece clash with Bohemians.
As it stands, Pat’s are currently second in the top-tier table and have been for some time.
Although their faint title hopes could come to an end before the weekend is out, just five points from as many games will ensure European football returns to Inchicore for the first time in three seasons.
The runners-up spot is also firmly within their grasp and given their form to date against Longford in 2021, they will be firm favourites for the spoils in the Midlands tomorrow.
Yet – like Rovers – the Saints have been made to work for their 100% success rate over Daire Doyle’s charges during the current campaign.
Despite coming away with a 3-0 triumph at Richmond Park on April 30 (a Chris Forrester double supplementing a breakthrough finish from Rónán Coughlan), it was felt the final scoreline flattered the hosts.
Matty Smith and Coughlan found the net in the second half to give the Saints a 3-1 win on their last visit to Longford in June, before they edged a five-goal thriller with the ‘Town in Inchicore at the beginning of last month.
The already-relegated Longford are expected to make life difficult for them once again, but with the likes of Darragh Burns, Billy King and Smith in fine form, St Pat’s should have enough to prevail.