Keely stunned by listless display

THERE HAVE, unusually, been a few back to back wins this weekend in the National League, but whatever chance you have of putting one over St Patrick's Athletic one week, it is unlikely to be done two weeks' running. Deep down, Dermot Keely can have been none too surprised by this outcome at Whitehall on Saturday night.

As Keely put it in the immediate aftermath of a fairly bloodless coup for the champions, "whoever gets done one week comes out with daggers the next". However, he'd have settled for four points out of six from the two meetings, and was clearly stunned by the way his team rolled over and had their bellies tickled after fighting the good fight at Richmond Park eight nights earlier.

"Our back four were all over the place, their two boys up front (Martin Reilly and Jason Byrne) ran amok. We just didn't cope with those two. At half time I could have taken off any three of the back four.

While that was Home Farm's main source of angst for much of the night, the damage wasn't confined to there. "We were second best all over the park. Last week we competed and gave it a go but we were second to very ball tonight. You explain that to me, because I sure as hell don't understand it. Maybe it explains the situation," he mused.

Home Farm did enjoy some reward down the flanks, occasionally and intricately creating space for centres, but their standard of crossing was aptly summarised in one word by Keely. "Atrocious. Hence he is likely to pursue Joe Hanrahan some more, despite last week's hitch, and thus the jury was still out on their latest on loan acquisition, the goalscoring 26 year old from Dundee, George Shaw.

Though Brian Kerr's hand may have been forced by the late withdrawal of Eddie Gormley, the St Patrick's manager was entitled to reflect on his tactical successes with some satisfaction.

The abiding memory of the contest, once St Patrick's had emerged from the early skirmishes intact, was of Byrne and Reilly turning and twisting their markers Peter Eccles and Brendan Place or even roving wide to do the same to the full backs.

Recognising the strengths, and by extension, the weaknesses of Home Farm's venerable central defensive pairing, Kerr had untypically opted for two nippy front men who prefer the ball played to feet. A renowned horses for bourses manager, who studies the opposition more intently than most, Kerr's tactics worked a treat.

Without Gormley, the midfield still lacked a little zip, and the service to the front two was still sometimes a bit too high. But the back five - despite retaining only one of last year's title winning, line up - had a balanced, solid look to it.

Though operating on the right, and therefore obliged to turn back onto his favoured left foot, Paul McGee still supplied by far the best crossing of the match. He was also on hand to score his third goal in six games since his arrival from Linfield when converting the rebound after Josh Moran had touched Keith Long's free kick onto the post after 36 minutes, Reilly having earlier rounded Moran with some aplomb to score the crucial first goal five minutes beforehand.

Thereafter, St Patrick's cruised to the finishing line. One senses that this could yet be a turn point of sorts. "Had we lost this one we were going nowhere," admitted Kerr. "At least it keeps us on the edge of something."

Indeed, you sense that both these sides will improve as the season progresses. St Patrick's just need to establish a settled side, the extra bit of confidence that comes with a few wins, and Gormley restored to full fitness and form.

Home Farm too are struggling to find a settled side, Keely's problem being that his rejigging should really have been done in pre season. St Patrick's are further down the road and have a much better base in any case, but as Keely said: "It'll change. It'll change.