Stephen Kenny praises ‘good result’ after 1-0 first leg win as St Patrick’s Athletic secured a narrow advantage over nine-man Nomme Kalju in their Conference League tie, keeping hopes alive for the return leg in Estonia next week.
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Late Goal Secures Slim Advantage
St Patrick’s left it late but found a breakthrough in the 90th minute when substitute Chris Forrester scored the only goal of the match. This strike handed Pat’s a slender 1-0 lead, with the winners set to face either Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk in the third qualifying round.
Dominance Without Goals
It was a night of dominance at Richmond Park as Pat’s registered 32 shots compared to just two from Kalju. The Estonian side went down to nine men after Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko were sent off in the 64th and 69th minutes, yet Pat’s could not convert their dominance into a bigger lead, missing several chances to extend their advantage.
Kenny Focuses on the Positives
After the match, manager Stephen Kenny chose to look at the positives, acknowledging the importance of any European win and praising Kalju’s resilience. He noted how Kalju had shown grit in the previous round and that it was important for Pat’s to take a win into the second leg, even if they felt a second goal would have put them in a stronger position.
Impact from the Bench
Kenny was full of praise for the substitutes who played key roles in setting up the winner. He highlighted Brandon Kavanagh’s precise pass and Conor Carty’s shot that led to Forrester’s composed finish. Kenny described Forrester as a “big-game player” whose experience was vital in such moments.
Teammates Praise Forrester
Midfielder Kian Leavy also commended Forrester, describing him as an “unbelievable” player to learn from and emphasising the wealth of experience Forrester brings to the team. Leavy noted that Forrester, despite being disappointed when not starting, always supports his teammates and offers valuable advice, underlining the positive influence he has on the squad.
Looking Ahead to Estonia
With the tie delicately poised, Pat’s will head to Estonia with confidence but aware of the need to be more clinical if they are to advance further in the competition. Kenny and his players will be determined to build on this narrow win, ensuring their European journey continues.
