Latest news with #FCHegelmann
Irish Examiner
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Melia shines as St Pat's ease into second round of Conference League
Uefa Conference League, first round, second leg: FC Hegelmann 0 St Patrick's Athletic 2 (Mason Melia 6', Kian Leavy 56') (St Pat's win 3-0 on aggregate) Mason Melia led St Patrick's Athletic to a facile victory over limited Lithuanian opposition to set up a Conference League second round tie next week. Saints led 1-0 from the first leg in Dublin but the improved Hegelmann side Stephen Kenny predicted his team would face didn't materialise as the hosts suffered a meek home loss in Kaunas. Their European experience was confined to a 5-0 crushing by Macedonian opponents and Pat's could easily have matched that rout over the 180 minutes. A team owned by a freight company was easily sent packing in a primitive stadium dominated by visiting supporters. Melia is on his way to Tottenham Hotspur next January for a transfer fee worth an initial €1.9m to Saints and he'll be central to generating revenue through this European run. Progression through the opening round spikes to €700,000 the prize-money guaranteed for owner Garrett Kelleher. It will enter the seven-figure bracket should they overcome the winner of tonight's tie between Estonians Nõmme Kalju and FK Partizani from Albania in the next round to secure a berth in the third qualifying stage. Having got the nod to spearhead the attack ahead of last week's match-winner Aidan Keena, Melia took just six minutes to open the scoring in the return leg. Jay McClelland worked the opening by dashing into the box from the left, receiving Kian Leavy's square pass on the run, and when his low shot was parried by Vincentas Šarkauskas, Melia was first to the rebound to tap home. Joseph Anang in the Saints goal was rarely worked by the Lithuanians. While their side was composed of several nationalities, there was little international experience among them bar the lowly Lithuanian team. Brazilian Léo Ribeiro fired a warning early in the second half by angling a shot but when his threaded pass failed to find Cameroonian Abdel Kader Njoya ghosting into the box, it was soon punished. Melia triggered the immediate response on 56 minutes, driving at the defence before freeing Kian Leavy, who took one touch and rifled a rising shot into the roof of the net. Routine stuff for Saints who will find the going tougher as they work into the competition, starting next Thursday back at Richmond Park. More to follow…
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Stephen Kenny expecting much tougher test for St Patrick's Athletic away from Richmond Park
Stephen Kenny says he is expecting a much tougher test from FC Hegelmann later than St Patrick's Athletic endured last week in the Conference League. The Super Saints take a 1-0 aggregate lead into this evening's decisive first qualifying round, second leg, but they should have taken more from the first meeting last Thursday. Mason Melia had some big chances by the banks of the Camac, while Jason McClelland saw an effort come back off the crossbar. Eventually, substitute Aidan Keena would score the only goal from the penalty spot. But Kenny says he's not expecting to dominate the Lithuanians in Raudondvaris, like they did in Dublin. "Hegelmann, we probably didn't see the full extent of them last week," he told RTÉ Sport at the pre-match press conference. "At home I expect they'll have a higher level of performance. We'll have to more than match that and make sure we come out on the right side of this tie. "They've more in the locker than they showed last week and they'll be more committed from an attacking point of view. "It's about our level of performance. We were very good last week but we must look to build on that." Pat's have been struggling for goals, with just three in around 800 minutes of action, between the League of Ireland, and their European opener last week. They've been training on astroturf to get used to the feel of an artificial surface, something which they'll have to contend with later at the Raudondvario Stadionas. And Kenny is hopeful that it's just a matter of time before the team really clicks, and the goals start flowing for the Richmond Park outfit. "I was very pleased with our performance [last week]. Our passing was accurate, our movement dynamic, we had pace in the team. "The only thing lacking - we created a lot of chances - was our finishing. "We missed a lot of chances but we kept going. We believed we could get the goal and eventually we got the penalty. "We had the opportunity to give ourselves more leeway but we didn't quite take it. It's important to have that lead and now we're set up for a real battle out here. "We still have it all to prove but I've faith in the players." Last week, Kenny's four substitutes - Chris Forrester, Kian Leavy, Zack Elbouzedi and Keena - brought a different dynamic to the game, with former Sligo man Keena scoring the all important goal. And Kenny says he's contemplating changing things up for a game where he expects his side to be a bit more on the back foot. "We'll need 16 tomorrow out here, it'll be a really tough game," Kenny concluded. "Mason, even though he didn't score on the night, was really good the way he led the line. "We have competition for places and that's important. A few of the players who came on made an impact and that's what you're looking for."
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Stephen Kenny focusing on positives of progression rather than financial factor of missing out
The weather forecast is not 100pc reliable but St Patrick's Athletic are prepared for the prospect of playing in a thunderstorm when they take on Lithuanian side FC Hegelmann in the second leg of their first round tie in Kaunas today (5.0).
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Late Keena penalty gives St Pats slender advantage over Hegelmann in European opener
Uefa Conference League first round, first leg: St Patrick's Athletic 1 (A Keena pen 81) FC Hegelmann 0. A goal famine of 400 minutes forced Stephen Kenny into a substitution that paved the way for St Patrick's Athletic accruing a slender first-leg lead in their European opener. Groans of frustration around Richmond Park were audible as the Saints toiled against Hegelmann, extending their barren patch to almost seven hours. Just like Joey O'Brien did for Shelbourne against Linfield, however, a treble substitution altered the landscape within seven minutes. Busy Barry Baggley lured Klaudijus Upstas into a foul just inside the box, allowing substitute Aidan Keena to bury the penalty into the bottom left corner despite the goalkeeper diving the right way. It was the striker's first goal since May 30, the same date Saints last tasted victory. Although the better team, familiar failings threatened to deepen the woe of a middling season for St Pat's. A one-goal advantage is theirs to build in Kaunas next week, setting up a second-round tie against either Nomme Kalju (Estonia) and Partizani (Albania). The Lithuanians brought little by way of European history into the tie. They were only formed in 2009, gradually progressing through the ranks to earn a Conference League entrance two seasons that. That was short-lived, slumping to a 5-0 aggregate exit at the hands of Macedonian side Shkupi who Shamrock Rovers beat twice the previous year. Their season had a cosmopolitan hue, comprised of five Lithuanians, two Serbs, a Ukrainian, coupled with one apiece from Japan, Cameroon and Brazil. The senior international representative was restricted to their home-based cohort. Pat's were the side who took the initiative, albeit at a moderate pace. It was understandable for Kenny to change his artillery, choosing teenager Mason Melia ahead of Keena, and the €2m wonderkid could have made the night a whole less tense had he converted on four minutes. Jay McClelland produced the opening by curling a left-foot cross into the box where the unmarked Tottenham Hotspur bound forward somehow sidefooted his volley wide. When Melia flashed a shot over and McClelland's cross grazed the crossbar 13 minutes later, it seemed inevitable Saints pressure would yield but their slack finishing, coupled with vulnerability at the back, contributed to nervous moments. One such breakaway by the visitors had them scrambling, Brazilian Léo Ribeiro squaring for Cameroonian Abdel Kader Njoya who in turn fed Donatas Kazlauskas. It took Jamie Lennon's late tackle for the shot to angle off-target. Two Pat's penalty claims were rejected approaching the break, both involving Vilius Armalas. The ex-Benfica trainee stuck out his arm to block a shot and then needlessly bundled Melia over as the ball was rolling out of play. Neither plea from the home crowd was entertained by the Belgian referee. He would eventually point to the spot but not until Saints were given a let-off soon after the restart. Tom Grivosti's last-ditch tackle from a cross was necessary but the loose ball fell to Léo Ribeiro who could only screw his shot wide with goalkeeper Joseph Anang stranded. Saints still held the upperhand without carrying the punch to perforate the Eastern European visitors. Goalkeeper Vincentas Šarkauskas had to turn over a rising shot by Baggley while Melia spurned another sitting, swivelling and shooting over after the block off Baggley's shot saw up perfectly eight yards out. Melia's determination played a part in earning the penalty, a welcome break for a club still searching to match form with their budget. ST PATRICK'S ATH: J Anang; R McLaughlin, J Redmond, T Grivosti, J McClelland; J Lennon (C Forrester 73), B Baggley, B Kavanagh; S Power (Z Elbouzedi 73), M Melia, J Mulraney (K Leavy 84). FC HEGELMANN: V Šarkauskas; K Upstas, V Armalas, N Đorić, C Duke; D Antanavičius, L Kojić; D Kazlauskas (P Popescu 65), Léo Ribeiro (E Kausinis 74), A Shchedryi (Wesley 73); A Kader Njoya. Referee: Simon Bourdeaud'hui (Bel). Attendance: 2500.
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
St Pats form 'unacceptable' says Stephen Kenny as FC Hegelmann visit in UEFA Conference League
St Patrick's Athletic must rediscover their shooting boots to clear the first hurdle of the Conference League against Lithuanian opposition. FC Hegelmann are joint-second in the table of the A Lyga that, like Ireland, runs through the summer. Last season's march to the playoff stage of the same competition was the highlight of Stephen Kenny's first season back in club management. For that to be replicated, a strong start in front of a restricted capacity of 2,500 is essential for a side worryingly out of form. Compounding their winless run of six matches is the barren attacking aspect. Just once have they hit the net, coming into their European expedition on the back of successive stalemates against Cork City and Bohemians. 'It is unacceptable, of course,' said Kenny of their lull in results. 'I am hugely disappointed with that but at the same time I understand that everyone is giving everything.' That's the minimum required against a side showcasing a multi-national side, led by Cameroonian striker Abdel Kader Njoya. If they emerge victorious from the tie that concludes in Lithuania next Thursday, the Saints will then face the winners from the clash of Nomme Kalju (Estonia) and Partizani (Albania). That would also double their European prize money, nearing the halfway mark of the €1.28m grossed from last year's progress. 'We worked hard last season to move up the table to finish third and qualify for Europe again,' added Kenny. 'European nights at Richmond Park are special. 'There's no point in qualifying for Europe and just getting knocked out. You have to show a level of ambition and we will have to fight hard over two legs to get through.'
