Stephen Kenny returns to Tallaght with the Super Saints in Europe

ST PATRICK’S Athletic return to European action on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League where they take on Sabah of Azerbijan in Tallaght Stadium.

The third qualifying round tie has a 7.45pm kick-off and interestingly all of the pitch officials hail from Iceland.

Going on form the Inchicore side will have it all to do as Sabah have won their last three matches while for Pat’s it’s been two losses and a win.

However, that win came in the form of a very good but perhaps fortuitous victory at home to Sligo in the Premier Division on Sunday on a 3-2 scoreline.

Even though Sligo took the lead on the 22nd minute through Connor Malley, it wasn’t long before ‘the Saints’ responded four minutes later through a penalty from Aidan Keena.

In what was a great contest, Sligo responded in the second half with an Ellis Chapman goal on 53 minutes.

Again, ‘Pat’s’ responded on the scoreboard twelve minutes later with a goal from influential substitute Brandon Kavanagh.

St Patrick’s Athletic manager Stephen Kenny

With the game deep in injury time and seemingly heading for a draw, Pat’s were awarded a penalty in controversial circumstances.

St Pat’s’ Luke Turner fell backward to the turf as a free kick from Kavanagh was sailing into the Sligo area.

To the ire of the travelling players and management referee Rob Hennessy awarded a penalty which Kavanagh duly dispatched in the 100th minute.

Sligo manager John Russell was so angry at the spot kick decision that his dissent earned him a red card.

The home victory ended Sligo’s four-match winning run in the league and was only ‘Pat’s’ third win in the league under Kenny.

Kenny made several changes from St Pat’s match in Liechtenstein last week when they progressed through to the third round of the Europa Conference League.

The Inchicore team drew 2-2 in Liechtenstein, which gave them a 5-3 aggregate win.

The St Pat’s manager and Tallaght native Stephen Kenny is known for his meticulous preparation, including when it comes to away ties in Europe, so this should be a source of confidence for his players.

The local connections with ‘Pat’s’ do not end there as one of their most important players is Joe Redmond who comes from Kilnamanagh.

Stephen Kenny’s charges’ reserves of resilience and endurance will be tested over the coming days as on Sunday they return to domestic action with an away tie against Galway United in the league, with a 3 pm kick-off.

Meanwhile the return leg against Sabah is pencilled in for Thursday, August 15 in Alinja Stadium, Baku with a kick-off time there of 5pm.