Clancy’s men to build on strong start
By Daire Walsh
ST PATRICK’S Athletic will be looking to build on their strong start to the new SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season when they welcome Sligo Rovers to Richmond Park tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
In what was Tim Clancy’s first top-flight game as manager, the Saints recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory at the expense of Damien Duff’s Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday.
Although the hosts caused them some problems over the course of the contest, goals from Darragh Burns, Mark Doyle and Jason McClelland ensured Pat’s returned to Inchicore with the three points.
While the return of Firhouse native Eoin Doyle to the League of Ireland following a decade-long stint in the UK has been the dominant story around Richmond, the off-season acquisition of his namesake Mark was also a shrewd piece of business.
The Skerries man scored 48 goals in the four years he played under Clancy at Drogheda United and he has already hit the ground running with his new club.
In the aftermath of their win over Shels, Clancy sang the praises of teenage goalscorer Burns, who has represented both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at underage level.
A resident of Stamullen – a village in Co. Meath that borders north county Dublin – his father originally hails from Belfast.
He is expected to play a big part tomorrow as Pat’s entertain the Bit O’Red on their home patch. Managed by Perrystown’s Liam Buckley, Sligo were idle on the opening weekend of the season after their scheduled meeting with Bohemians at The Showgrounds last Saturday was called off due to adverse weather conditions.
Having finished third in last season’s Premier Division table, the north-westerners are expected to be a tough proposition for Clancy’s men who will be hoping to bag another win ahead of their trip to Bohemians on Monday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).