St Patrick's 2 JFK Olimps 0:OVER THE past few weeks there has been a lot of talk about how different the European game is and how Irish teams must strive to match the more technical, possession-orientated football of the teams they come up against in the continental competitions.
To be honest, though, there was little evidence of a gulf in class or style in this, a slightly lacklustre game that nevertheless yielded a welcome win for St Patrick's.
The victory confirms the Irish team's place in the draw for the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup this afternoon, when Manchester City and Aston Villa will be among the big-money prizes on offer.
Afterwards, though, John McDonnell, insisted he would prefer his side to be paired with one of the competition's lesser lights; the Dubliner is not quite ready to cash in yet.
"I know there are teams there that might allow the club to make a load of money," he said. "But from my point of view I think I'd like us to get somebody that we might have a realistic chance against because we want to progress and it would be good for everyone if we could go a bit further in the competition."
McDonnell was understandably pleased with his side's efforts and, in particular, the result here, and he could certainly be forgiven for not worrying the game seldom sparkled as a contest.
There was no hint of disappointment either from the home supporters, for their team had always looked comfortably the better side even if they struggled to create or convert chances in a way that would have properly reflected their superiority.
It's hard to recall, in fact, an occasion when an Irish side has knocked the ball around with such ease. Their midfield was completely dominant, Gary Dempsey quietly and effectively toiling to disrupt the visitors' attacks, then set team-mates on their way.
Keith Fahey looked a cut above those around him when in possession farther on through the centre. And Derek O'Brien repeatedly caused the Olimps right back, Junior, serious problems out on the left flank in the first half.
On the other wing, Ryan Guy also posed a threat, though the American's runs became more effective in the second half as spaces opened up in front of him.
Around the opposition area, however, final passes and touches routinely let the Dubliners down, Mark Quigley a repeat offender despite several times getting himself into good positions prior to scoring from the penalty spot 71 minutes in and then being replaced with less than 10 left.
The striker, to be fair, did nothing wrong when trying to turn a low Fahey ball in from a couple of yards midway through the opening half but saw his attempt turned just over after a lunging block by his marker.
And it took a brave intervention by Deniss Petrenko midway through the second half to prevent him from converting a Guy cross from the right.
At other times, though, St Patrick's simply looked careless against a side who, in what really appeared a lost cause, must have hoped to keep things tight until the closing stages before nicking something.
If that was their plan then it was blown apart a few minutes before the break when Junior hauled down Dessie Baker and from the resulting free Fahey floated the ball in for Jamie Harris to head home unchallenged.
The Latvians now needed to score twice but there was only a fractional shift in the balance of the game and the closest they came to grabbing a goal was a free by Igor Tarasovs that Barry Ryan initially fumbled a few minutes into the second period.
The hosts continued to look more likely to add to their lead and eventually did 71 minutes in.
A curling pass by Fahey, who was beginning to swagger, was being chased down by Glen Fitzpatrick when Alens Snelnikovs needlessly took the striker's legs from under him.
Quigley coolly sent the keeper the wrong way with the spot kick.
Finally, the visitors brought on a second striker and stepped up their pursuit of a goal but they could do little to exert any pressure on the Dubliners' back four.
Late on Alan Kirby came close to adding a third and Kaspars Ikstens had to made a couple of good saves to keep the scoreline looking respectable
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Ryan; Lynch, Harris, Paisley, Byrne; Guy, Dempsey, Fahey (Ó Cearúill, 90 mins), O'Brien (Kirby, 74 mins); Fitzpatrick, Quigley (Ryan, 81 mins).
JFK OLIMPS:Ikstens; Junior, Petrenko, Kazura, Kandov (Snelnikovs, 64 mins); Fertovs; Jakovlevs (Sputajs, 61 mins), Perepechko (Turkovs, 72 mins), Tarasovs, Zolotarjovs; Zils.
Referee:M Borg (Malta).
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