St Pat's fan favourite on European goal-den days and Saints chances in Istanbul
Declan O'Brien scored in four European games the last time the Saints reached the playoffs. He joined on loan from Dundalk and finished as their joint top scorer that season, despite spending just four months in Inchicore.
Declan O'Brien supplied the ammunition the last time St Patrick’s Athletic went on a run to the European playoffs. But he wonders if his former club has left itself short in its attempt to make the group stages in Istanbul tomorrow night.
Stephen Kenny’s Saints are away to İstanbul Başakşehir - fifth in the Turkish Super Lig standings - with the tie delicately poised at 0-0. St Pat’s were excellent in last week’s first-leg in Tallaght, but O’Brien reckons they have it all to do to progress.
“I think they needed a 1-0 going over there and Istanbul will be more than happy with a 0-0, playing at home. It’ll be a tall order,” O’Brien told Mirror Sport.
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O’Brien understands the value of taking your chances in Europe as he weighed in with big goals in 2009 to put St Pat’s into the Europa League playoffs.
‘Fabio’ became an instant hit with the Saints supporters after scoring in the club’s first four games of the Europa League that season.
He joined on loan from Dundalk and finished as their joint top scorer that season, despite spending just four months in Inchicore.
O’Brien scored in both legs against Valletta of Malta - and signed for them later that year - and then repeated the trick against Russian side Krylia Sovetov.
It set up a playoff clash with Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest but it was a bridge too far after losing 5-1 on aggregate, following a 3-0 away defeat and 2-1 at the RDS.
O’Brien said: “Those big European nights are my best memories in football and the current St Pat’s players might say the same.
“I’ve some St Pat’s-supporting friends and we were only talking about the parallels between this team and mine.
“Both sides were doing well in Europe, but both were struggling in their respective league campaigns. We had a strong team, but didn’t show it in the league.
“But you hit purple patches every now and then and after a very disappointing spell with Dundalk, I hit the ground running at St Pat’s.
“The Valletta game was my debut and it was a fantastic way to start but the Steaua game is still a big regret.”
O’Brien continued: “I was in great form and honestly felt I could score against any team in Europe.
“But over there, I was picked on the right instead of up top and I think it was a wasted opportunity.
“Had we knocked in a goal, you’d never know what could have happened in the home game, but it wasn’t to be.”
But O’Brien likes the cut of the current crop and would love to be a striker on the receiving end of Jake Mulraney and Zach Elbouzedi’s service.
He beamed: “I’d love to play with those lads! Mulraney has a serious wand at set-pieces and usually puts it on the money.
“You see the damage he can cause and St Pat’s are going to need that in Istanbul to stand any chance as I think they’ll regret not having a lead.”
O’Brien continued: “Stephen Kenny has come in as a marquee appointment and we’re starting to see a bit of spark now.
“It’s a results business, but I think he’ll get it right and this European run has done them the world of good.
“I think St Pat’s looked a bit soft in the league - they didn’t have the hunger, desire and intensity they should have.
“That’s starting to change, so I don’t think it’s a case of Europe just papering over the cracks, you can see signs of progress being made.”
But O’Brien feels the Conference League group stages is the right level for League of Ireland clubs to be aiming for.
He added: “You see PAOK against Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League and they were just toying with them.
“The gulf in class is too much, even if the money is great. Hopefully St Pat’s can get there too but Istanbul definitely played within themselves and will fancy their chances.”
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