Drennan hits the spot for elated Saints
MICK McCarthy arrived a few minutes late at Richmond Park and left a few minutes early, which is the fashion for managers these days.
McCarthy’s presence was most welcome even if he’s unlikely to have added any names to his long list for Republic of Ireland selection.
As an opening act to the season, this was a good game, if not a great one, but the Saints fans in a healthy ‘Richer’ crowd of 3,479 got what they wanted.
So, too, did Harry Kenny. His reign as Saints manager began with a welcome home win, and a clean sheet too, thanks to smart handling and the sharp reflexes from Brendan Clarke.
One instinctive save in the first half from Clarke would have drawn approval from the late Gordon Banks, who famously denied Eamonn Dunphy at the same Shed End in 1977 on his sole appearance for Pats.
For City manager John Caulfield, fears that a much-changed XI would take time to find their feet this term were realised although the loss of Gearóid Morrissey in the warm-up was a blow.
Morrisey’s physical presence was missed in the trenches although City had most of the play, and a deadly dribbler in Daire O’Connor, but they couldn’t find a way past Clarke when they were on the front foot.
Before kick-off, a scuffle broke out in McDowell’s pub where Cork City fans entered a den which is a long-time sanctuary of the Saints.
Gardaí were quickly on the scene and the situation was defused.
As I walked past at 7.20pm, a chap with a bandaged head was giving his details to one of the boys in blue — it was the first booking of the season.
There were a few on the pitch too, the first when Conor Clifford left a calling card late on the ankle of Kevin O’Connor, whose cry carried across the turf.
Clifford was hailed as a great hope for Irish football when he signed for Chelsea in his teens and he still has a bit of class about him — he won the Man of the March award here.
It was Clifford’s quick movement which sucked Sean MacLoughlin into making a rash challenge in the box on the half hour.
No one disputed the penalty given by referee Neil Doyle and Mikey Drennan duly sent Mark McNulty the wrong way from the spot.
The goal had come against the run of play as City twice worried the Saints from set pieces before Clarke beat away Gary Buckley’s header after fine work by Daire O’Connor in the 25th minute.
After Drennan’s penalty, the Saints were pressed back for long spells in the second half but City lacked a cutting edge in the final third and they were met by resourceful defending.
Clarke touched over a big dipper from Dave O’Connor before Karl Sheppard dragged wide but City were running out of ideas.
Briefly, Saints lifted the siege and Simon Madden forced McNulty to save smartly to his left.
There was eight minutes of injury time — no one was quite sure where they came from — but a despairing City couldn’t find a leveller.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; Webster, Toner, Desmond; Madden, Lennon,