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.

St Patrick’s Athletic won’t compromise their approach to counter Hannover 96 at Tallaght Stadium tonight as manager Liam Buckley will send his side out to play their normal game against the Bundesliga giants.

St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers, Ireland’s two remaining teams in European competition, hope to keep the Airtricity League flag flying when they go into tonight’s Europa League second round, second leg, home qualifiers against Siroki Brijeg and Spartak Trnava, respectively.

AS well as finalising his own team’s preparation with training at the ŠRC Stoice Stadium, Pat Fenlon was busy last night doing his homework on Slovenian opponents Olimpija Ljubljana ahead of tonight’s Europa League second round first-leg tie (7pm, Irish time).