Boost for Fagan ahead of Pats’ big Euro clash

As St Patrick’s Athletic prepare to do battle in Hanover tomorrow, striker Christy Fagan has been boosted by the announcement he is the Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland player of the month for July. Doubtless one of Pats’ most loyal supporters, Con Houlihan, would have approved.

Fagan, who pipped Drogheda’s Alan McNally and Sligo Rovers’ Gavin Peers to the accolade, becomes the second Saints player to win the award this season, following Chris Forrester’s terrific month in April. A return of three goals from four games, including the late winner against Siroki Brijeg in their Europa League qualifier, saw the Dubliner earn the majority of votes.

“It’s my first time to win award, it’s been some month,” said the 23-year-old. “Every game has been a final. It’s great to win as an individual but I wouldn’t have scored the goals if the others lads weren’t all playing so well. The game against Siroki in Richmond probably stood out most. It was a massive effort from the team and the atmosphere was brilliant.”

Unfortunately, Fagan couldn’t repeat his heroics against Hannover in Tallaght, a 0-3 deficit leaving Pats with a mountain to climb in Germany tomorrow.

“I had a couple of chances to get another goal against Hannove,” said Fagan. “The first one fell to me quickly and it got blocked. Second one, I was trying to put it in at the far post, but it slipped by.

“Hopefully, on Thursday, we can cut out the mistakes. They were very good at dictating, but we might be a bit more clued in to stop that now.

“I felt we performed okay but the three goals left us gutted. It’s hard to think the tie is nearly over. We wanted to go over there with a chance to frustrate them. Conceding three was a huge blow but we’ll try and go over and win the tie.”