St Pat’s Euro odyssey ends despite much improved display

In spite of a generally improved performance from the first leg last week, it mattered little in the final analysis as St. Patrick’s duly bowed out of the Europa League at the AWD-Arena in Hannover last night.

Acknowledging they needed to keep the ball better than they did in losing 3-0 at Tallaght Stadium last week, and press Hannover further up the pitch, an unchanged St. Patrick’s started purposefully, forcing two early corners and were encouraged by almost taking the lead from the second of them corners on 11 minutes.

Sean O’Connor’s delivery was only half-cleared and when the ball was put back across by John Russell, captain Conor Kenna — who controlled it superbly on his chest but his volley was marginally too high.