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The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘It's not inevitable' – Stephen Kenny warns St Pat's to ‘prepare for all eventualities' in Conference League clash
STEPHEN KENNY is looking for his side to take control this evening to avoid getting a kick in the Baltics. Whilst Kenny said: 'We can't assume anything. It's not inevitable, that just because Kalju are at home that they will play that way. 'We must prepare for all eventualities and we must try and establish some control on the game ourselves. 'Rather than looking for counter-attacks on the word go, we must look to establish some kind of control and try to score the first goal.' Read More on Stephen Kenny That is exactly what happened in the last round in nearby running out 3-0 winners on aggregate against Hegelmann. And there is no doubt that Mason Melia's early goal in the away game left St Pat's in the driving seat . Kenny said: 'That early goal was a great help to us for sure but this is a different game completely, we're not relating to two games. 'We've got to be very determined and be ready to fight until the end here to get the result that we need.' Most read in Football He was coy on whether he would have anyone at the game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Besiktas in Istanbul with the losers of that tie St Pat's opponents in the next round, assuming they progress. He said: 'From our point of view, we always do our preparation regardless. One thing we're not doing ourselves is looking beyond this game. It would be foolish to do so. I think this game itself will be hard-fought. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas 'They are a level-headed group, they understand we are not at the level that we can dismiss anybody, Estonian teams have traditionally been tough opposition, we have to earn the right to win. 'To win in Estonia won't be easy but the players are playing well now in the last couple of weeks and really starting to take control of the games in a good way, although we need to convert more of our chances.' St Pat's do know that if they can extend their run of consecutive clean sheets to a club record seven then they will be through. And Kenny - traditionally an attack-minded coach - insisted that record was not just down to keeper Joseph Anang and his defence He said: 'I suppose it's not been last-ditch defending. It's probably our ability to gain more control now in games because we've slightly changed the way we play. 'We're getting more control and that has probably taken a lot of pressure off our back four. I think that's certainly helped us but we need to do it in the most difficult games. 'That's what we need to show, we're not dwelling on that and we need to go fight hard in the European Conference League away from home and show our qualities.' St Pat's remain without Romal Palmer and Sean Hoare, and Zack Elbouzedi who dislocated his shoulder in the first leg. 1 St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny after the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round first leg match against Nomme Kalju FC Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kenny raves about St Pat's ace and lauds 'incredible football intelligence'
Stephen Kenny has hailed Jay McClelland for stepping out from the shadows and into the European spotlight for St Pat's. McClelland was the Saints man-of-the-match in Thursday's tense 1-0 Conference League win over nine-man Kalju, a result that puts St Pat's in control going to Estonia. And if they hold their rivals at bay on Thursday, the Inchicore men will face the loser of the Europa League tie between Besiktas and Shakhtar Donetsk. As it stands, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas are the most likely opponents as they lost Thursday's first-leg 4-2 at home. McClelland, 28, has been at St Pat's since 2020 but hasn't always been a starter and when he does play, he could be deployed in any number of positions. Lately, the attacking midfielder has been playing at left-back but has also popped up on the left wing and in the middle of the park. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . But Kenny has hailed McClelland's professionalism for refusing to cave when opportunities were hard to come by, after becoming a key man in Europe this year. Ex-Ireland boss Kenny said: 'No, he hasn't (always been a starter), and hasn't always been in the squad - he's been in the stand in the past. He's had to bide his time but he's just having a run of form and his innate football intelligence is incredible. St Pat's Jay McClelland and Daniil Tarassenkov of Kalju (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) 'He can see great pictures and has the technical ability to execute really intelligent passes and crosses. He's a very intelligent player. The physicality maybe wasn't his strongest point but he has adapted that to his game to help him play there. 'He's worked on aspects of his game which weren't his strongest points where you might get exposed as a left-back, in your one-on-one defending and your heading. 'He's got much better at those facets of the game and his distribution is very inventive. It's a competitive area for us. Anto Breslin has never let us down, he's always been a terrific full-back at the club. 'At the start of the season we probably wouldn't have factored Jason playing at left-back but when people take their opportunity you have to reward that.' McClelland only started five league games last season - he came on another 16 times - but already has 12 Premier Division starts this year from his 21 league appearances. At no stage since Kenny took charge 14 months ago has the Dubliner ever knocked on the manager's door demanding to leave. St. Patrick's Athletic's Jay McClelland (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy) Kenny said: 'He was out of contract last year but I made it clear to him that I wanted him to stay. His versatility is important. Even when he's not in the team, he's super fit and that's a challenge because players find it hard to stay at the level when they're not in the team- they get demoralised.' Ryan McLaughlin, the former Liverpool and Northern Ireland player, is another who has stepped up to snatch a starting role. He was behind Axel Sjoberg as Kenny's right-back option, but has now wrestled the shirt off the Swede. Kenny continued: 'Ryan and Jason didn't start any of the European games last year and they're in the positions now. "You see the passing, Ryan to Jason and then Jason back to Ryan. You don't see that much in matches, those touchline to touchline passes from full-backs. But Ryan has that in his locker and the in-joke in the group is that he showed Trent Alexander-Arnold how to do it! Meanwhile, Kenny won't rule out signing a midfielder before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline for contracted players, as Romal Palmer remains on the long-term list. But Chris Forrester is nearing a return to the starting line-up after stepping up his comeback from injury of late, and scoring the all-important late winner against Kalju. Kenny said of Forrester: 'He's been a great player, a regular in nearly all of my games since I took over but he was out for eight weeks. 'That's two months and you can lose a lot. He needs to work hard. He's had a few weeks' training and is coming on so he definitely comes into our thoughts.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Chris Forrester with late winner as St Pat's Athletic edge nine-man Nõmme Kalju in Conference League
St Patrick's Athletic left it late to break down nine-man Nomme Kalju in their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round first leg at Richmond Park. Chris Forrester netted shortly after his introduction on 90 minutes as Conor Carty's shot was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, and Forrester danced around him before finishing coolly. It looked set to be a night of frustration for the Saints as they were repelled despite Kalju losing Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko to red cards within five second half minutes. The dam eventually in the final minute of normal time as the deeply cynical Estonians' defensive gameplan was finally undone. The home support were in fine voice long before kick off - though they had to in order to be heard above a PA soundtrack that could be heard from space - and maintained that despite their frustrations. And their patience - and that of goalkeeper Joe Anang - who also got to relax and watch a game of football - was rewarded when the erratic Pavlov failed to hold onto Carty's effort. The Russian goalkeeper had two hairy moments early on, first tipping a Jay McClelland cross over and almost fumbling Simon Power's centre into his own net. That was to be the majority of the first-half entertainment bar Pavlov tipping away a shot by sub Jake Mulraney, on after Zack Elbouzedi was cynically hacked down and had to depart with an arm injury. Mulraney again went close as Pavlov spilled a corner and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box, but it fell onto the roof of the net. The tide appeared to turn as Siht made a mess of a Saints breakaway and received a second yellow card for hacking down Barry Baggley. Power hit the side netting from 20 yards before Kalju's woes were compounded when Mashchenko cynically chopped down Mulraney as he ran in on goal. The visitors changed their initial plan of 11 men behind the ball to nine men behind the ball - or on the ground - but the Athletic's diligence eventually paid off as Forrester capitalised. They had further chances in injury time as subs Aidan Keena and Mulraney both drove narrowly wide but they will travel to Tallinn next Thursday with the most slender of leads. St. Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Tom Grivosti, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin (Aidan Keena 71), Joseph Redmond; Barry Baggley, Zack Elbouzedi (Jake Mulraney 24), Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh 78), Jamie Lennon (Christopher Forrester 78), Simon Power; Mason Melia (Conor Carty 78). Nomme Kalju : Maksim Pavlov; Danyil Mashchenko, Maksim Podholjuzin (Uku Kõrre 45), Modou Tambedou, Daniil Tarassenkov; Kristjan Kask, Oleksandr Musolitin (Aleksandr Nikolajev 46), Ivans Patrikejevs (Sander Alex Liit 78), Rommi Siht; Nikita Ivanov (Guilherme Henriques da Silva Carvalho 62), Mattias Männilaan.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Forrester dramatic late winner gives St Pat's the advantage going into second leg in Estonia
Europa Conference League, second qualifying round, first leg: St Patrick's Athletic 1 (Forrester 90') Kalju 0 As so often in the past, Chris Forrester proved St Patrick's Athletic's talisman once again with a dramatic late winner just as it seemed frustration would be the order of the night by the Camac. With the Nomme Kalju goal under siege as they defended heroically with nine men for over 20 minutes, St Patrick's finally gave themselves something to bring to Estonia next week with a 90th minute goal. A triple 79th minute substitution by manager Stephen Kenny would eventually bring St Patrick's their due reward with all three players contributing. Brandon Kavanagh fed Conor Carty down the inside left channel. And though the striker's drive was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, Forrester, St Pat's record European appearance holder, pounced on the loose ball to show clever feet and score from close in. While St Patrick's dominated on the night, and well before Kalju's two dismissals, it remains all to play for in Tallinn in next Thursday's second leg. Kenny made one change from last week's win against Lithuanian side Hegelmann with Zach Elbouzedi replacing Jake Mulraney on the right flank as St Pat's started on the front foot. Pavlov looked far from sure of himself early on, tipping over crosses from Jay McClelland and Barry Baggley while also fortunate that nothing came of having an attempted clearance charged down by Mason Melia. Though St Pat's continued to dominate the ball, it was the 28th minute before they seriously threatened, left-back Modou Tambedou doing well to nick the ball off the toe of Simon Power from Baggley's through ball. If suspect in the air, Pavlov did show pretty competent shot stopping ability with saves from McClelland and substitute Jake Mulraney as St Pat's frustration grew with no tangible reward forthcoming as they trooped off at half-time. Home agitation continued into the second half, Melia just not able to get enough purchase on a downward header from Mulraney's cross to trouble Pavlov. Kalju then mustered their first spell of pressure on the home goal with Tom Grivosti defending well to block a shot from Mattias Mannilaan amid three successive corners for the visitors. Back at the other end, plaintive shouts for a handball were not entertained in a scramble that followed a McClelland header from Baggley's corner. Kalju, having shipped four bookings already, were reduced to 10 men on 64 minutes when Rommi Siht was dismissed for a foul on Kian Leavy, his second yellow card. It got worse numerically for the Estonians four minutes later as Danyl Mashchenko was also sent off for a second yellow card offence for hauling down Mulraney. Minutes later Melia looked set to break the deadlock only to slice his volley wide after Grivosti picked him out in space right in front of goal. With Kalju pinned back in their final third, substitute Aidan Keena worked Pavlov at his near post before Kalju's heroic defending was undone with Forrester's big goal. Pavlov would then prevent further damage with the save of the night in the 93rd minute when turning Kavanagh's drive round a post. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; McLaughlin (Keena, 70), Redmond, Grivosti, McClelland; Lennon (Forrester, 79), Baggley; Elbouzedi (Mulraney, 24), Leavy (Kavanagh, 79), Power; Melia (Carty, 79). Nõmme Kalju: Pavlov; Tarassenkov, Mashchenko, Podholjuzin (Korre, 45+6), Tambedou; Patrikejevs (Liit, 72), Musolitin (Nikolajiev, h-t), Kask, Siht; Mannilaan, Ivanov (Guilherme, 62). Referee: Ladislav Szikszay (Czechia).
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Chris Forrester breaks nine-man Nomme Kalju's resolve as St Patrick's Athletic clinch late win in Conference League
CHRIS FORRESTER caught Nomme Kalju with their pants down after the Estonians were told to pull up their socks. Substitute Forrester scored in the dying seconds to finally break the resistance of a team which played with just NINE men for the last 20 minutes. 2 St Patrick's Athletic beat Nomme Kalju in the Conference League Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Chris Forrester scored the winner Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile It sparked relief at Richmond Park although there will still be frustration that they did not win by a bigger margin given how the numbers were in their favour - and Brandon Kavanagh, Jake Mulraney and Simon Power all went close after the goal. Kalju's poor discipline was underlined when Oleksandr Musolitin was booked by the referee after he had to be told for a second time that his socks were too low. He did not reappear after the restart with both Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko sent off after the break. But the players who stayed on did a heroic job of trying to keep the hosts at bay and almost pulled it off with the tie still very much alive ahead of the return leg next Thursday. Read More on League of Ireland Kallju keeper Maksim Pavlov looked vulnerable early on and, in quick succession , he scooped speculative efforts from Jason McClelland and Barry Baggley over the bar at the expense of a corner but St Pat's were unable to profit from either set-piece. Nor could anyone punish Pavlov when he dropped a cross from McClelland. For all their possession, St Pat's were not carving Kalju open which led to a growing frustration in the stands. And, when someone finally decided to try to make something happen, it did not end well. Most read in Football Zach Elbouzedi dribbled at speed from his own half and was cynically pulled down by Mashchenko although there was enough cover nearby for it not to warrant more than a yellow card. But it ended Elbouzedi's evening and will likely be sidelined for some time as it looked as though he may have broken his wrist when he fell with Mulraney sent on in his place. Watch hilarious moment Stephen Kenny bumped into Alan Reynolds on the street before Dublin derby Mulraney had his moments with one effort comfortably dealt with by Pavlov whilst Melia had a similar run to Elbouzedi but opted to shoot when he had options either side with Maksim Podholjuzin able to block his effort. There was a second encounter between the pair just before the break when the centre-half fouled him. Referee Ladislav Szikszay signalled he was playing advantage but the call did St Pat's no favours as the way ball spun up to Kian Leavy he was unable to control it. A booking for the Kalju captain would have been deserved but did not materialise. He was unable to continue, however, having hurt himself in making the challenge . St Pat's needed to up the tempo after the break and they did. Kalju carried more of a threat than they had done but were undermined by their rash challenges which saw two players sent off. Soon after the restart, Melia headed Mulraney's cross straight into Pavlov's arms. But, at the other end, it needed a block from Tom Grivosti to deny Krijstan Kask after good work by Nikita Ivanov and Daniel Tarassenkov. McClelland then twice went close, first with a shot with the outside of his foot and then with a header from a corner which St Pat's claimed, to no avail, was blocked by a hand. Kalju countered with Tarassenkov narrowly failing to connect with a volley but, after that, things started to unravel for the visitors. Smit was booked twice in nine minutes for an aerial challenge on Power when he led with his arm and for tripping Baggley. Five minutes later, they were down to nine men when Mashchenko was cautioned for tripping Mulraney in full flow. Pat's did create chances with a Leavy off target with a header and a low shot while Melia narrowly failed to connect with a Power cross with a series of other shots blocked by the tiring Kalju players. Eventually, though, the breakthrough came when Forrester kept his composure after Pavlov had beaten away Conor Carty's effort. SUN STAR MAN: Jason McClelland (St Pat's) ST PAT'S : Anang 7; McLaughlin 7 (Keena 71, 6), Grivosti 7, Redmond 7, McClelland 7; Baggley 7, Lennon 7 (Forrester 79, 6); Elbouzedi 6 (Mulraney 24, 6), Leavy 6 (Kavanagh 79, 5), Power 7; Melia 6(Carty 79, 5). NOMME KALJU : Pavlov 5; Tarassenkov 6, Maschenko 5, Podholjuzin 5 (Korre 45, 7), Tambedou 7, Siht 5; Musolitin 5 (Nikolajev 46, 6), Kask 7; Patrikejevs 6 (Liit 72, 5), Ivanov 6 (Smith 62, 6); Mannilaan 7. REFEREE : L Szikszay (Czechia) 5
