St Patrick's looking for a timely morale boost

St Patrick's Athletic v Valletta:JEFF KENNA'S observation when he first met the press as St Patrick's Athletic manager a few months back that the cup competitions would provide his side's best hope of a little success scarcely seemed controversial at the time.

The Dubliner, though, could hardly have imagined that by the time Europe came around the club would be almost 20 points adrift of Bohemians in the league, hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone and boasting just three wins from their previous 12 games.

The former international makes no bones about how difficult things have been in the championship and says he hopes this evening Europa League game against Valletta in Inchicore might be the start of an adventure.

That would be nice but ensuring that it is not a very short story is something of a necessity.

St Pat’s performed well last year even if they did come up a little short against Hertha Berlin in the end. It is hard to see how they could put any sort of positive spin on a defeat by a Maltese side, particularly a week after Sligo Rovers were eliminated by Albanians.

Kenna’s problem, of course, is that he is still without a string of experienced players due to injury and struggling to find a combination that can generate a few more goals while at the same time tightening things up at the back.

The arrival of Declan O’Brien from Dundalk will certainly add experience up front where the team’s difficulties are adequately highlighted by the fact that Ryan Guy is the team’s top scorer in the league with just three goals.

Valletta, though, will pose a stiff challenge. They scored five against Kevflavik of Iceland in the last round with Dutch coach Ton Caanen and former international midfielder Jordi Cruyff both exerting a good deal of positive influence.

O’Brien could well go straight into the team but “the Saints” are likely to be handicapped by the absence of Jason Gavin who is expected to join the likes of Gary Dempsey, Mark Leech, Mark Quigley and the suspended Damien Lynch on the sidelines.

“We have loads of injuries,” acknowledges Kenna, “and we have a suspension as well so that is about par for the course. But it will be a nice distraction, one we’re very much looking forward to because the league has proven to be very frustrating. Hopefully it will be the start of a good adventure.”

Asked about tonight’s opponents, Kenna pointed to Cruyff as their key figure and said he was impressed by them in the last round. “They are a good footballing team, and it will be a tough game for us,” he added