Some half-time words of inspiration from manager Harry Kenny set St. Patrick's Athletic's on their way to a 2-0 victory over UCD at Richmond Park on Friday night. Second half goals from Ciaran Kelly and Mikey Drennan secured a third consecutive lea
Some half-time words of inspiration from manager Harry Kenny set St. Patrick's Athletic's on their way to a 2-0 victory over UCD at Richmond Park on Friday night.
Second half goals from Ciaran Kelly and Mikey Drennan secured a third consecutive league win for the Saints after a fairly uneventful opening 45 minutes. Afterwards, Kenny said that at half time he told his side they would need to pick things up against the club occupying the second from bottom position in the table.
"We needed to be better in the second half and have more life about us and get after them a little bit more," Kenny said. "We improved and I was pretty happy with the second half."
The manager was pleased to see defender Kelly score his first senior goal for Pat's and feels that there might just be more where that came from.
"Ciaran scored a few from corner kicks for Drogheda last season. He's a brave lad and he took his header well, which was great."
The win was Saints' third consecutive victory in the league and their second clean sheet on the trot. Kenny praised his defenders for keeping blanks against Finn Harps and UCD in the last two games after letting in a sloppy late goal against Sligo Rovers on Good Friday.
"I was very disappointed to concede late on against Sligo but certainly the past two games we've been looking safe at the back without giving Brendan Clarke a whole pile to do in goal. I'm delighted with the clean sheets."
Next up for Pat's is a short journey to Tallaght on Monday night to face league leaders Shamrock Rovers, a challenge Kenny is relishing.
"I'm looking forward to it. We'll regroup on Sunday and see how we are in relation to tired legs and injuries and pick a team that will hopefully do the business."
