WHEN PAT’S BECAME BOHS
Brian Kerr’s 1990 team looked set to dominate – then eight players moved to their main rivals
ON A chill Easter Monday in Drogheda in 1990, the players of St Patrick’s Athletic celebrated the club’s first League of Ireland title in 34 years. ‘We were a team mostly of rejects but we gelled,’ recalled Pat Fenlon. The self-belief and fierce spirit was fostered under manager Brian Kerr, who cobbled together a cut-price squad that rose from the ashes to become a force in Irish club football.
A team of no fixed abode, who trained where they could and were paid buttons, found a way to reach the summit, driven there by their passionate, perceptive and, at times, pernickety, manager.
Fifth in 1986-87, second in 1987-88, fourth in 1988-89, the Saints were crowned champions in 1989-90 and finished third in 1990-91.
They seemed set fair for a long stint among the elite.
Yet by the summer of 1991, the team had been broken up, scattered to the winds, mostly to rival Dublin clubs, and chiefly Bohemians.
Fenlon, Joe Lawless and Robbie Best became the first three ex-Pats to sign for Bohs, followed 12 months later by three more – Dave Henderson, Tony O’Connor and Maurice O’Driscoll.
Before the end of the 1992-93 season, they were joined by Pat Kelch and Mick Moody.
Ahead of today’s FAI Cup final between St Pats and Bohemians, this is the story of how eight players crossed the Liffey and headed up the North Circular Road to play for their city rivals.
THE BACKGROUND
Pat Fenlon (Pats 1987-1991, Bohs 1991-94, now Bohs’ Director of Football)
‘A lot of us, in a way, were rejects. I’d come back from Chelsea disillusioned but Brian and Noel O’Reilly saw something in me at an Irish U17 game. We were a tight-knit group at Pats.
‘When I first signed, the year we pushed Dundalk to the final game, I was on a tenner a week, and two pounds fifty for every appearance.
‘I broke my leg twice the year Pats won the League so I didn’t play that many games but I made the bench at Drogheda when we won the title.
‘We stayed another year, starting against Dinamo Bucharest in the European Cup, a top side, and we held them at Tolka Park, which was some performance.
‘Brian did his best to keep it together. One week, he’d be sweeping the glass from the tarmacadam in St Michael’s Estate before we trained. There was the smelly pig pen behind the goal at “Richer” which we used as well.
‘Some training nights, we were struggling for balls. We were still playing out of Harold’s Cross at the time. We didn’t have a pot to pee in.’
John ‘Trapper’ Treacy (St Pats 1987-94)
‘Billy Young at Bohs gave me my chance in the League of Ireland but Pats became my club.
‘Two years before we won the league, we drew at Dundalk on the final day. We needed a point to qualify for Europe but if we won, we were league champions.
‘Nutsy (Fenlon) scored from the spot before Dessie Gorman headed an equaliser. We then had Paddy Dillon sent off. That was traumatic.
‘We won the League in 1990 with a gang of nomads, gathered up by Brian who had a way of spotting a player he felt could be of benefit.
‘To get over the line in 1990 was the highlight of my career. It was the first title for Pats in something like 35 years and extra special for me as I scored in the 2-0 win over Drogheda. I rarely scored.’
Tony O’Connor (Pats 1989-1992, Bohs 1992-2003)
‘Brian could identify good characters. He knew the type of personality he wanted, lads who would blend in without causing any ripples.
‘No one in that Pats group was a “Billy Big Balls”. I loved my time there.’
‘We’d no facilities but Brian always put on a good session, no matter where we trained. And we trained everywhere.’
Maurice O’Driscoll (Pats 1987-1992, Bohs 1992-2000) ‘The 1990 crew at Pats were a special group of players and we still keep in contact. We’d a 30-year reunion a while back and there’s a great camaraderie among everyone.’
Brian Kerr (Manager St Pats 1986-1996) ‘I made a big mistake. After we won the league in 1990, we went to Tunisia to play the national team and the wives and girlfriends came too.
‘Trying to keep order wasn’t easy as the partners were there for a holiday but we had to prepare for a game.
‘There were constant chats about what lads at other clubs were getting. All the talk was about money. I had an idea what was coming although we stayed together for the next season.’
Eamonn Gregg (Manager Bohemians 1990-93)
‘When I became manager of Bohs the club wasn’t in a good place. We’d a poor first season and before the start of the 1991-92 season I knew I needed to bring players in.
‘Pats had a great team in 1990, put together by Brian who became my manager when he got the Pats job in 1986.
‘They were a credit to him, so hard to beat. I’d seen Curtis Fleming come through as a right-back at Pats when I was playing there and knew he was the future.’
THE FALL-OUT
Fenlon: ‘Brian took it very personal when we left. I was as blind as a bat and Brian put me touch with this fella who sorted me out for contact lenses. I was a different player right away.
‘When I was leaving Pats, I rang Brian and he went off on one, ranting and raving. I always remember him saying, “And you can pay for your own bloody contact lenses from now on.”
‘We were decent players and the contract offers from other clubs were more than anything Pats could match.’
O’Connor: ‘The hardest part was telling Brian I was leaving. I’d known him since my time at Home Farm.
‘He signed me for Pats and made me club captain. That summer (’92), we were living in rented accommodation in Tallaght. We had to consider everything.
‘Eamonn Gregg had been on to me from Bohs. There was a decent signing on fee involved.
‘I decided to inform Brian I was leaving so I asked him around for a cup of tea.
‘When I said I felt I needed a new challenge, he lost it. “Challenge, me balls. You’re the captain and look at you, you’re jumping ship with the rest of the rats. You can shove your tea up your arse”.’
O’Driscoll: ‘At the time I left Pats, I’d just become a parent and the financial consideration came into it, definitely.
All is forgiven at this stage but at the time it nearly killed me
‘Bohs were supposedly a bigger club, they had Dalymount, while Pats were playing out of Harold’s Cross.
Kerr: ‘All is forgiven at this stage but at the time it nearly killed me. I was like a madman.
‘Harold’s Cross took too long to sort out and that didn’t help. It all got a bit edgy and a few of them had the balls to jump.
‘It was all about money. That was the bottom line of it. I had an idea what was coming.
‘Nutsy was the one that got to me. Even then I could see he was going to become a manager. He was only developing as a player as well.
‘He was always also going to be a central midfielder because of his brain. There was seven or eight of them playing for Bohs at one time. I wouldn’t talk to them.’
Gregg: ‘I knew Nutsy (Pat Fenlon) and I got wind he wanted out. Pat ticked all the boxes as I could see he was potentially one of the best midfielders in the league.
‘There was talk of interest from Shamrock Rovers but nothing came of it. It went to a tribunal but we paid Pats a lot less for Pat than they were asking.
‘We needed a striker up top with Dave Tilson and Joe Lawless fitted the bill. He was the probably the most straightforward of the signings.
‘Robbie Best was a bit of a gamble but I’d like what I’d seen of him at Athlone, where he was on loan. He was a bit raw but he had lots of pace and read the game well.
‘We’d a great season, capped by winning the FAI Cup with Pat, Joe and Robbie in the team.
‘The next summer I felt with a couple of players we could challenge for the league.
‘Maurice O’Driscoll was a centrehalf who could play in central midfield, while Tony O’Connor was so versatile he could play at full-back, centre-back, midfield. He was a crucial signing and became a Bohs legend.
‘I spoke to Hendo (Dave Henderson) the Monday after we won the Cup. He wanted out of Rovers.
‘For the start of the next season we had a merry gang of ex-Pats players. As a former Pats player, I needed players I could trust. ‘I spoke to Brian and knew he was upset. I could understand that. I was looking out for Bohs and we went so close to winning the league that year too.’
‘Pat Kelch was out of football when he signed; Mick Moody had gone to Rovers before he signed. He could cover in defence and in midfield.
‘Ultimately, it was the decision of the players themselves to sign for Bohs.’
Treacy: ‘I stayed. I could have gone to Derry City but I’d a decent job in Dublin and I loved playing for Pats. The money wasn’t great but that didn’t matter.’
‘One time before we played Bohs at Dalyer I went over to the lads who’d left and said, “Lads, I’m not supposed to talk to you or shake your hand. As far as Brian is concerned, you’re still the rats that deserted the sinking ship.”’
THE OUTCOME
Fenlon: ‘The first year at Bohs we won the FAI Cup. The next year we should have won the League but the bus broke down on the way to Oriel on the last day. If we’d won the League, we would have kicked on.’
‘Do I regret it? It’s a hard one. At the time, I thought it was the right call. I was part of a great team at Bohs that went close in the League and the Cup without winning.
‘At Bohs, there were lads before and after me who had been with Pats. For a while it was like I was still playing for Pats.’
‘At Pats, Brian got things going again and the team won t h r e e titles in the late 90s. Ozo (Paul Osam) and Johnny Mac (McDonnell) went back and were part of it.
O’Connor: ‘I’d 11 great years at Bohs even if it took a lot longer than I thought it would before we won anything. Of the Pats lads who signed for Bohs, I was the last one there.’
Treacy: ‘After the other lads left, Brian made me captain and it was an honour to lead out the team on the return to Richmond Park in 1993. I lost six FAI Cup semi-finals in my career and a League Cup final with Pats in 1993 but loved every minute of it. When Bucko (Liam Buckley) was manager and we won the league (1999), I was his assistant.’
Kerr: ‘Apart from Nutsy at Shels, I don’t think too many of them won another league medal. Toccy (Tony O’Connor) eventually did at Bohs but that was about it.
‘Of the team that won the league, they all jumped ship bar Trapper. Ozo (Paul Osam) and Johnny Mac (McDonnell) went and came back after a year. Mick Moody took longer to come back.’
‘Whenever Pats are in the Cup final we all meet up on the day. We’re still a tight crew, like we were when we won the league.’
2023 CUP FINAL VERDICT:
Fenlon: ‘I’m working for Bohs, so the decision is made for me. We know what’s at stake, a trophy and Europe. We’re missing Bucko (Keith Buckley) but we’ve plenty of quality, and goals, in the team.’ O’Connor: ‘There’s a Pats reunion in Ballsbridge for the final. I’ll be a bit comprised as I’ll be swinging for Bohs. They have the players, especially on the attacking side, to worry Pats.’
Kerr: ‘Hard one to call. Going to Longford, Derry, Harps and Cork and winning will give Pats confidence. If they defend well, it gives them hope. Pressure isn’t there like before after winning in 2014 and 2021.’
Treacy: ‘I’m with Pats. They’ve been scraping through every round on the road. This could be another tight one.’
O’Driscoll: ‘I’ve connections to both clubs, as a player and through DHL, so it’s a win-win for me. Bohs need a trophy that bit more.’
Gregg: ‘It reminds me of the ’92 final when we were the underdogs against Cork City and we won. It’s all about who turns up in the day. Bohs are too big a club to be so long without a trophy.’