Three games into his tenure as St Patrick's Athletic boss and Stephen Kenny finally saw his side get a point on the board after a 2-2 draw away to Bohemians on Friday evening.
For the second time in week Pat's conceded a stoppage time goal, this after goals from Chris Forrester and Cian Kavanagh had them in front at the break.
Things didn't begin well for the visitors at Dalymount Park as they suffered a very early blow with a nasty injury to Ruairi Keating after just 12 seconds following a clash of heads with Bohemians defender Aboubacar Keita.
The striker needed over eight minutes of attention on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher to hospital. Midfielder Jake Mulraney also went off injured just before the break.
A positive update on @RuairiKeating ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vE16emLUBm
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) May 25, 2024
Earlier today, St Pat's confirmed that Ruairi Keating was discharged from hospital.
In a statement, the club said: "St Patrick's Athletic can confirm that Ruairi Keating was discharged from hospital overnight after tests and scans came back all clear. We're looking forward to seeing Ruairi on the pitch soon," read the statement.
"We'd like to thank Fiona Dennehy and the medical team at Bohemians and Dalymount Park, DFB ambulance, the Mater Hospital and our own medical team for their help and care for Ruairi."
Reflecting on the game, Kenny rued the concession of two points but they were elements of the performance that did please him, this after recent losses to Derry City and Shelbourne.
"We need to add to the squad and we need to be stronger. We had a good tactical performances against Derry and Shelbourne but tonight was a real battle, but I was happier tonight. There was more of a semblance of a team even though we conceded a late goal. There was a more united sense of effort; everyone was giving 100 percent, no doubt about that, all done within the framework of a unit.
"It was attritional game; the surface was very dry and so it was difficult for any team to get cohesive passing. Our players that are playing every week are fit, that's what I'm learning. But we have a number of players that haven't played and are still well below match fitness. Some of them contributed when we needed them today because we lost two of our back four before the game through suspension and injury. And then we lost two of our best players in the first half.
"For Tom Grivosti to come in after being out for a year with a knee injury, he's only played 45 minutes in an U20 game, to come in and use his defensive know-how was a credit to him. Jay McClelland hasn't played in a long time and Cian Kavanagh has not been featuring and then Cian gets a big goal. He could have put us 3-1 up, his shot grazed the post, just wide."
For Kenny's counterpart Alan Reynolds, the concession of "cheap goals" was frustrating.
"They didn't have to work too hard for their goals," he said.
"The injury at the start threw things off. We didn't start well and gave way a cheap peno. We then grew into the game and we deserved our equaliser and the gameplan was working.
"Then the goal we gave way just before half time was sloppy. The second half lacked quality but we made a few changes, went for it, and were lucky enough to get an equaliser."
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