BUCKLEY IS THE MAN TO ROUSE PAT’S
THERE was a stage during the course of this season that St Patrick’s Athl eti c not only looked like the side who won the Premier Division in 2013, but also as if they were capable of pushing Dundalk so much further in this year’s title race.
It is not hard to pin-point the exact period when — to paraphrase that vaunted song — the Saints were marching on. From June 5 to August 14, Liam Buckley’ team created a new club record of nine straight league victories. Not to mention knocking Shamrock Rovers out of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup in the midst of it all.
However, it is the results either side of the achievement that are perhaps of greater significance — especially the one which ended the charge and have brought to the surface some of the underlying frailties at Richmond Park.
The run began following a 2-0 home defeat to Dundalk and came to the most gruesome of ends when they were hammered 4-1 at Oriel Park — opening up a 12-point lead over the Inchicore club.
As it transpired, the champi- ons retained their crown without worry, 13 points ahead of nearest challengers Cork City but a further eight ahead of Pat’s. From that defeat on, confidence within the squad has looked as brittle as cheap dentures with performances as flaky as a teenager with bad dandruff.
Four days after leaving Louth with their tail between their legs in August, they also relinquished the FAI Cup — the trophy they lifted at the Aviva Stadium last November for the first time in 53 years — following a 4-0 mauling to Cork at Turner’s Cross in the last 16 of the competition.
It was the most tepid of performances from the Pat’s players and even Buckley, a committed optimist , admitted afterwards that it was not good enough from his charges. Worryingly, the Dubliner has not been able to arrest the slide with four defeats from their l ast five league fixtures.
While they did beat Galway United on penalties to win the EA Sports Cup at Eamonn Deacy Park last month, and have a game in hand on Rovers who are six points ahead in third spot, fourth place looks to be as good as it will get this term.
Thankfully for Pat’s, as a result of top two Dundalk and Cork reaching the Aviva showpiece, that will be enough to secure a place in Europa League qualifying for 2016. Now they just have to make sure they get there.
A win over relegation-threatened Drogheda United tonight, coupled with Bohemians losing to Sligo Rovers tomorrow, will confirm that progression. With their far superior goal difference, even a draw for the Gypsies would do the job.
The money on offer from UEFA — a minimum of €200,000 with €410,000 on offer should they reach the second round — will be vital for Buckley’s rebuilding plans. And despite a frustrating season, he certainly deserves the opportunity to put them in place and execute them.
It is accepted within the Pat’s dressing room that fresh faces are required to provide a new impetus. Buckley has proven he can deliver the league title, now he must alter the squad so they are capable of challenging Dundalk.
Morale has, on the main, remained high and even though Buckley may be the second longest serving manager in the Premier Division (Tony Cousins at Longford pips him by a couple of years), it is not a case that he has lost the dressing room. Even if some will be looking for a route out.
An element of fans may have grown frustrated with Buckley, because it’s easy to forget previous success when you lose nine games in one season compared to 10 during the previous two combined.
The poor results have certainly not diminished his own grá for the club. He remains a regular visitor to the Under-19s and 17s’ games and is no stranger to throwing his head into the dressing room before and after games to offer encouragement and advice.
Some of those future graduates to the first team squad will be one of the things on the agenda when Buckley sits down with owner Garrett Kelleher to discuss matters for 2016. There will also be those he wants to move on and who he feels he can replace them to ensure next year they are no flash in the pan.
Buckley has earned the right to put things right.
It’s accepted fresh faces are required