Kenny intent on making new

New names have arrived at Richmond Park as Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic aim to improve on last season, a campaign where they failed to throw down any real challenge at the top end of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division.

In the end, Kenny's men finished fifth, outside the European places. After finishing the 2024 season like an express train, Pat's were tipped by many to push hard for the title. Their non-involvement in that pursuit and subsequent defeat to Cork City in the FAI Cup semi-final made for a most underwhelming season.

Pressure on Stephen Kenny to put things right in 2026? That goes without saying.

Mason Melia has made the move to Tottenham and winger Jake Mulraney is now a Shamrock Rovers player. Brandon Kavanagh to Drogheda United, Conor Carty to Waterford and Luke Chukwu to Norwich are other outgoings.

In the door comes defender Ronan Boyce from Derry City and midfielder Darragh Nugent from Shamrock Rovers. Attacking options are bolstered by the capture of Ryan Edmondson from Australian side Central Coast Mariners and Max Mata, the former Sligo Rovers player recently winning the Australian A League with Auckland FC. Former academy player Glory Nzingo has returned to the club.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport at the launch of the League of Ireland season in Whelan's Bar in Dublin, Kenny initially spoke about the disappointment of not securing European football this term.

"European qualification was an expectation that was realistic"

"Last season we had every right to get Europe again because we performed so well at the end of the previous season - and also a lot of people tipped us to win the league," he said.

"European qualification was an expectation that was realistic. We didn't quite achieve it. In the last game of the season against Shelbourne, a game we had to win, Luke Turner had a header off the line, hit his own man. But we didn't do enough in the game to win it; the late rally never came. Shelbourne contained us. Not qualifying was a disappointment."

Missing out on the financial riches that European competition brings is a blow for an ambitious club like Pat's. However, Kenny was at pains to say that not being involved come the summer does not constrain the club "in a major way", adding that Pat's are "continually a selling club".

And while there have been more outgoings than new arrivals over the course of the off-season, the Pat's boss believes the new additions can make the side a more solid unit in the months ahead.

"We are a technical team, and have a lot of diminutive, skillful players who can dribble a pass. But over the course of last season, in terms of physicality and athleticism, we fell short and were found wanting. We signed Ronan Boyce (pictured below) and Darragh Nugent because they give us a lot of athleticism and Max Mata and Ryan Edmondson offer a focal point in attack.

"We have to be flexible in that we won't always play with one striker, we can play with two. We just don't want one way of playing overall."

On Sunday next, St Pat's will face Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium in their opening league game. It's the second year running that Bohs' first 'home' game of the season will take place at the Dublin 4 venue.

And while Kenny feels there is "less hype" this year in the build-up to the fixture, the opportunity for LOI clubs to grace the venue can't be underestimated.

"It is a great initiative and it should be commended," he remarked.

"I managed in it in what was voted the best cup final of all time in 2006 when they tore the stadium down: the Derry-St Pat's 4-3 epic final.

"For some years the cup finals were in Tolka Park and so the finals back in the Aviva is only right. To have league games there now, it's great, a facility we have to utilise.

"Players getting to play there is important, supporters being there is important. A lot of Dublin derbies last year saw fans locked out because of limited capacity in Dalymount, Tolka Park and Richmond.

"There seems to be less talk about the game there this time, maybe that might intensify over the week."

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