Saints starting to believe as Rebels eye drop-zone

AFTER a weekend of penalty drama in the Airtricity League, St Patrick’s Athletic are happy to still be setting the pace, staying on track for their first title since 1999. Unlike Sligo Rovers, the Saints converted their last-gasp spot kick award to edge Cork City 2-1 at Richmond Park on Friday night, much to the relief and delight of their manager. ‘To score so late is fantastic,’ said Liam Buckley. ‘This season, we haven’t had too many games where we have been on top and haven’t scored. ‘There are games where it doesn’t happen for you in front of goal and the goalkeeper makes some saves. To get a win is super,’ he added. Penalty hero Killian Brennan kept his cool as Saints fans held their breath at the death in Richmond. ‘I was just trying to concentrate on hitting the target and, thankfully, it did go in. It felt good,’ he said. ‘The lads were giving me high fives and I hadn’t even put it in the back of the net,’ added Brennan, who hailed City goalkeeper Mark McNulty for playing ‘the game of his life’. City manager Tommy Dunne felt the dismissal of Kalen Spillane in the 54th minute was the turning point after he tangled with Anto Flood. ‘Our player goes head-tohead and the other player hits the deck. He [Spillane] said he didn’t loaf him, it was just a coming together. The honest player gets punished,’ said Dunne, who conceded that City are now embroiled in a relegation battle.

PHILIP QUINN