Kenny's road warriors St Pat's into the west for Galway challenge

The Saints have shown good form away from Inchicore this term.

Fri, 01 May, 2026 - 07:20

John Fallon

An upturn in their away form is foremost in the reasons Stephen Kenny cites for his St Patrick’s Athletic side sitting pretty at the summit.

Whereas the Saints failed to win 13 of last year’s entire 18 away games, they’ve only missed out twice in full points in their five fixtures on the road this term.

That record comes under scrutiny this long weekend when they travel to Galway United on Friday and Sligo Rovers on Bank Holiday Monday.

“Getting wins at difficult venues was an area we knew improvement was needed in,” said Kenny, reflecting on last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish that saw Pat’s miss European qualification.

“We need that mentality going to these grounds to ensure we can contend physically with what any team throws at us.

“We must continue to show that on Friday because Galway will test us. They’ve got good players and will have a good season.”

Kenny pointed to Galway’s last home game – a 2-1 win over Derry City - as evidence of their form under John Caulfield.

“They were effective and convincing winners,” he noted about the trip to Eamonn Deacy Park.

“We know that it will be compact, we’ve to fight and it can be relentless. We need to produce a performance to gain some control in the game.

One of Kenny’s former clubs, Derry City, have finally turned the corner from a sluggish start by beating the last two champions, Shelbourne and Derry City, back-to-back.

They travel to Dalymount Park for a meeting with a Bohemians team that raced to the top, only to endure a seven match winless run, including three defeats in a row.

“I’ve watched a lot of Bohemians this week and they dominated against Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic,” observed Derry manager Tiernan Lynch. “They don’t look, to me, a team that is struggling in confidence.

“We got to Dalymount with confidence too. We’re not getting carried away with the last few results but I know there’s a lot more in us.

“You find character in your team when things aren’t going well. I never doubted their commitment.”

Bohs boss Alan Reynolds will be without injured Jordan Flores but won’t be overhauling his team in light of their recent slump in results.

Mitigation applies, he asserts, and remains adamant that the sizzling streak enjoyed in February and March can be revived.

This is the first of two home games, the second being the visit of Shelbourne on Monday.

“We have had a bad April, need to draw a line under it and ensure we start May well against Derry,” affirmed the Waterford native.

“There needs to be perspective on that as well because this has been an incredibly competitive season so far.

“Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are the only clubs to have lost fewer games than us but it is up to us as a management team and squad to find a way forward of getting our form back on track.

“We have the same group of players who started the season so well. It’s up to us to get them back to those levels of performance again.” Shamrock Rovers welcome bottom side Waterford, wounded by last week’s 1-0 defeat at Derry City which saw them lose their lead to St Pat’s.

Corkman Matt Healy should be in contention to return having suffered damage to his ribs but striker Rory Gaffney remains sidelined, alongside Danny Mandroiu.

In the First Division, Turner’s Cross hosts the derby of leaders Cork City against Cobh Ramblers. City hold a six-point buffer over second-placed UCD with a game in hand and will have a third of the season completed following the meeting with Fran Rockett’s Rams.