St. Patrick’s Athletic took a huge step towards securing their Premier Division status on Friday night as they showed incredible character to battle back from 2-0 down to beat recently crowned champions Cork City 4-2 at Richmond Park. Saints’ safet
St. Patrick’s Athletic took a huge step towards securing their Premier Division status on Friday night as they showed incredible character to battle back from 2-0 down to beat recently crowned champions Cork City 4-2 at Richmond Park.
Saints’ safety could have been confirmed tonight had Galway United lost in Limerick, but a late equaliser meant that their place in next season’s top flight is still uncertain.
Kurtis Byrne’s introduction in the first half, with Pat’s two behing, changed the game for Liam Buckley’s side, and he puts the slow start down to nerves.
“There was a bit of nervousness,” he said after the game.
“Everybody knew beforehand the consequences of losing and that can be a distraction because you really do need to focus on your performance.
“We played our way into it in the first half and then we knew we were in the game.”
Jordi Balk pulled one back for the hosts almost immediately after Byrne’s arrival, and Buckley believes the timing of the goal helped his side find confidence.
“Goals do change games,” he said.
“The most important was when we got that third goal and I would have been happy with 3-2 but when we got the fourth we had that bit of a comfort zone.”
Saints will now travel to Derry City on the final day of the season and need to claim a point to fight off any potential relegation with Galway United set to face Dundalk, as just three points separate the two sides but the Tribesmen have a better goal difference.
