Gone With The Wind

St Patrick's Athletic got the 2015 season underway last Friday evening against South Dublin County Council's foremost rentboys, Shamrock.
     The encounter was televised by State broadcaster RTÉ in deference to ExPats the world over. Former Saints CEO and current RTÉ talking head, Richard Sadlier, felt the two sides could not be separated on paper, in the three seasons since the return of Liam Buckley the Inchicore outfit having won an aggregate 30 points more than their former tenants, but with the council ground still holding something of an Indian sign over the Saints."I hope they both lose," added Sadlier's fellow panelist, Trevor Croly.

Live Register Statistic, TC

     The Saints were hampered by injury and suspension, missing former Hoops Killian Brennan and Ger O'Brien as well as future Hoop Sean Hoare. But Shamrock were not without their own problems, namely the absence of Republic of Ireland internationals Stephen McPhail and Keith Fahey (though they were boosted by the suspensions of Ryan and Gavin Brennan). In the build-up to the game Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey was at pains to point out that he felt no ill-will towards either Liam Buckley or the Inchicore faithful.
   

Republic of Ireland International, Keith Fahey

     "Listen, Expat," he said, " Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey had some great times at Pats, but Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey is a Shamrock player now, and that's just the way it is," said the Republic of Ireland international.
     But it was perhaps Killian Brennan's presence in the middle of the park that was most missed.  With Killer suspended and Conor McCormack filling in at right full, Liam Buckley was left short of midfield options, and plumped for a  4-4-2 formation, much to the chagrin of football hipsters from Bulfin Road to Railway Avenue. You don't know what you're doin' were the chants from the away end, and Bucko himself seemed to agree when pressed on the sideline by Tony O'Donoghue.

Brennan: Toaday's Beard, Today

     "Given the severity of the conditions," asked the Rebel without a cause, "do you think you'll be forced into any changes before the break?"
     "Ah sure lookit, Tony, the way it is...I normally wear a light-hold water-based pomade, but things being the way the are, we might have to look at adding a bit more hold sooner rather than later."

Plan B

     And just as he spoke Danny North latched on to a Max Blanchard hoof, and Shamrock found themselves a goal up.
     A livid Jason McGuinness remonstrated with referee Dave McKeown. "Sure neither of them are even Irish," he protested to no avail.
     Many a dismayed Saint tried to pin the goal on one of Derek Foran or Ken Oman, but either way it stood
       Meanwhile in the SDCC gantry, Ger Canning bemoaned the Saints' wastefulness from 45s, queried the omissions of Paul Osam and Marc Kenny from the starting line-ups, but praised the industriousness of corner forward Conan Byrne. Kenny Cunningham elected to use the word 'elect' quite a lot.
      The second half saw both sides huff and puff admirably enough, but despite the introduction of ooh aah Jamie McGrath there simply wasn't enough quality on show for Cyril Guedje not to suffer an existential crisis.
     Shamrock ran out 1-0 winners. The Saints remain The Saints.