League leaders St Patrick's Athletic look to mirror domestic form on European stage

The Saints sit at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division at the mid-season break, and can also continue their good form in the Europa League after a favourable draw

ANALYSIS

By Lorcan O'Connor Lloyd



A solid and consistent performance from St Patrick's Athletic has left them in a promising position at the mid-way point of the season. The Inchicore side hold a narrow lead in the Airtricity Premier League table. Derry City and Sligo Rovers are snapping at their heels with a game in hand on Liam Buckley’s team.



St Pat's title challenge is all the more impressive given the start they made to their league campaign. Two losses in the first four fixtures was clearly not the form of potential league winners. Despite the defensive crisis at the beginning of the season, St Pat's defence has been key to the side's progress. 12 clean sheets and only 10 goals conceded set them apart from the rest of the league. The luxury of playing a second season with the same back four has reaped huge benefits for Pat's, who will be hoping they all stay fit, especially with promising young defender Jake Carroll leaving for Huddersfield Town.



Creative midfielders Killian Brennan, Conan Byrne and Chris Forrester have been hugely impressive in terms of their build-up play and chipping in with vital goals. Pat's will be hoping they don't suffer the same problems as 2012 when they struggled to overcome sides despite dominating sides with slick possession based tactics and strategy. The lack of firepower and a reliance on Christy Fagan has been noted since Danny North left for Sligo Rovers, and could prove a problem once again.



Provided the goals from midfield don’t dry up and the extraordinary defensive form continues, St Patrick's Athletic may be on course to win their first Premier League title since the 1998/99 season. The biggest test to their title credentials will come in July with back to back away fixtures against Sligo Rovers and then Derry City.



Liam Buckley's side also face Lithuanian cup champions Zaligris in the Europa League, having been seeded for the First Qualifying Round. Pat's will be looking at the clash optimistically, and should they progress, a tie with either FK Teteks of Macedonia or Armenian club FC Pyunik will be their reward. While Pat's probably have received the best draw of all the League of Ireland sides in Europe, their continental campaign may become a distraction from their domestic ambitions, as they search for a first league title since 1999.



Balancing European and domestic games will be a difficult challenge for manager Liam Buckley, who may be forced to rely on some of his fringe players as he rotates his squad. However, Buckley's mood should be buoyed by the recent form of back-up striker Jake Kelly, who can provide goalscoring options as well as injecting pace up front.