Players are 'taking it in turns' to target teenage striker Mason Melia
The 17-year-old is on his way from St Pat's to Spurs in a £2m deal at the end of this League of Ireland season.
And ever since that deal was secured, he has become a marked man, with Lithuanian side, FC Hegelmann dishing out some severe treatment in last night's Europa League game at Richmond Park, which St Pat's won 1-0.
Read more: Keena the hero as St Pat's pick up huge European win
And ex-Ireland boss Kenny reckons refs need to be on their guard to stop the League's prize asset getting bullied by defenders.
Kenny said: 'Mason has been getting a lot of treatment, even in the domestic games, I feel.
'In certain games some players are actually taking turns of having a go at him, you know, rather than one player. I felt that a couple of times.
'So we do have to protect him at times. We haven't played him in all the games. We didn't play him in the Bohs game last week. We took him out. You know, he's young and we can't just play him relentlessly.
'So we've had to manage him a bit. But he is an outstanding talent and he did really well tonight. Didn't finish, but he kept going. And as you say, he was involved in the penalty. So we'll take that.'
Kenny, Melia and St Pat's were also content to take the single goal victory into next week's second-leg after they were made to wait 81 minutes for the breakthrough, a goal scored by Aiden Keena.
This theme of decent performances not being complemented by goals has become a major issue for the side after they scored just once in their previous six matches.
Kenny said: 'We have been playing well. The goals will come. It is just a question of retaining belief in what we are doing.'
And his faith in Melia has not wavered, despite the young forward's drought in front of goal.
Kenny said: 'Mason showed perseverance last night. He was frustrated, but he never stopped running. His natural athleticism is important. He showed good control in tight areas, I felt, at times.
'And so he'll come good again in front of goal.
'He keeps coming back. I asked the fourth official, the centre half fouled him four times and didn't get a yellow card, he came through the back of him, he said they weren't leading to goal scoring opportunities and things like that.
'It was 'persistent fouling'; he shipped a bit of treatment alright. He comes back for more, He doesn't hide, he knows he missed the chances but he's coming back and he's getting in the box again and he missed a couple more, and ultimately he gets taken down for the penalty.
'Mason's a terrific talent, he leads the line really well, his mobility and speed across the line, he has different attributes and different skillsets, not everything worked for him on Thursday night and he will know himself, he should have scored.
'As a striker you can never be afraid to miss and that's very important. If you miss, you go again.
'Thankfully we got the goal we needed.'
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