AFTER EQUALLING A 50-year-old St Patrick’s Athletic record last weekend, Christy Fagan is planning to end another this Sunday in the Ford FAI Cup final.
The 25-year-old striker became the first Pat’s player to score 20 league goals in a half century when he netted in the win away to Sligo Rovers on the final day of what has been an excellent season for him on a personal level.
While Liam Buckley’s team were unable to retain their Premier Division title, finishing behind champions Dundalk and Cork City in third, Fagan joined Lilywhites frontman Paddy Hoban as the league’s joint top scorer.
“I’m happy enough with my form all season,” Fagan told The Score. “I don’t think I’ve had too many spells that I’ve gone maybe three or four games without scoring so that’s been a good point for myself.
“For the team, we are a bit disappointed that we weren’t in the mix last Friday night but we know a lack of consistency at the start of the season cost us. Hopefully we can win the final on Sunday and it will be a decent season.
With Anto Flood departing for Australia after their league win and Mark Quigley suffering with injuries and poor form this term, Fagan and Saints winger Conan Byrne carried the lion’s share of the goalscoring responsibilities this year. He insists that he hasn’t had to alter his game, however.
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“Liam has always wanted me to play a lot with my back to goal and then it’s about getting in the box and getting chances. The way we have been playing this year I think there have been a lot of chances there for me. I started the season well, knocked a few in, and my form just kind of spiralled from there.
“I kept going and I always felt that if something dropped in the box then I’d stick it in. I couldn’t really put my finger on why I’ve scored more this year than others. It has just happened and that’s football.”
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
On Sunday, Pat’s meet Derry City in a repeat of the 2012 final, a game which Fagan has unhappy memories of after scoring late on in the game but ending up on the losing side after extra-time.
“The experience was good and bad,” he recalls. “The whole occasion was great but losing was terrible. Then going back to the Red Cow Hotel and seeing the fans after losing is the bad side of things. In the game itself, we were just unlucky and it was mistakes that cost us on the day. Derry were a good side with good players playing that day and they capitalised on our mistakes.
“It is something we will learn from and we have a lot of players still here who played that day. On Sunday we will be looking to get one over on them.”
Saints fans have been waiting 53 years to taste FAI Cup glory again and Buckley admitted yesterday that he won’t be able to rest easy until they finally win the competition again. That said, the barren spell is rarely brought up according to Fagan.
“It’s never talked about among the players and staff. It’s more of a media thing and with fans because we know how much it means to them to end the drought.
“We would love to be the group of players to do it but it doesn’t really get spoke about. It’s just another game and the build-up won’t be different to what it would be on a normal Friday night.
Beyond this season, the former Home Farm schoolboy who spent three years at Manchester United before returning to Ireland via the Glenn Hoddle Academy, Scotland and Spain, is content with life in the SSE Airtricity League but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t consider the right offer from abroad.
“I’ve never tried to manoeuvre a move away from the club but I’m 25 and if a good opportunity came up for myself and worked then I’d have a look at it.
“Otherwise, I’m more than happy to stay playing in the league. I’ve really enjoyed football since I came back here but if something good came up that you couldn’t refuse then of course ever player in the league would look at it.
“Since I moved back to the league, with home comforts, family and friends. I think it plays a part after travelling around for a couple of years. This is my fourth year and I’m definitely enjoying it.”
Fagan out to end another Saints record in FAI Cup final
AFTER EQUALLING A 50-year-old St Patrick’s Athletic record last weekend, Christy Fagan is planning to end another this Sunday in the Ford FAI Cup final.
The 25-year-old striker became the first Pat’s player to score 20 league goals in a half century when he netted in the win away to Sligo Rovers on the final day of what has been an excellent season for him on a personal level.
While Liam Buckley’s team were unable to retain their Premier Division title, finishing behind champions Dundalk and Cork City in third, Fagan joined Lilywhites frontman Paddy Hoban as the league’s joint top scorer.
“I’m happy enough with my form all season,” Fagan told The Score. “I don’t think I’ve had too many spells that I’ve gone maybe three or four games without scoring so that’s been a good point for myself.
“For the team, we are a bit disappointed that we weren’t in the mix last Friday night but we know a lack of consistency at the start of the season cost us. Hopefully we can win the final on Sunday and it will be a decent season.
With Anto Flood departing for Australia after their league win and Mark Quigley suffering with injuries and poor form this term, Fagan and Saints winger Conan Byrne carried the lion’s share of the goalscoring responsibilities this year. He insists that he hasn’t had to alter his game, however.
“Liam has always wanted me to play a lot with my back to goal and then it’s about getting in the box and getting chances. The way we have been playing this year I think there have been a lot of chances there for me. I started the season well, knocked a few in, and my form just kind of spiralled from there.
“I kept going and I always felt that if something dropped in the box then I’d stick it in. I couldn’t really put my finger on why I’ve scored more this year than others. It has just happened and that’s football.”
On Sunday, Pat’s meet Derry City in a repeat of the 2012 final, a game which Fagan has unhappy memories of after scoring late on in the game but ending up on the losing side after extra-time.
“The experience was good and bad,” he recalls. “The whole occasion was great but losing was terrible. Then going back to the Red Cow Hotel and seeing the fans after losing is the bad side of things. In the game itself, we were just unlucky and it was mistakes that cost us on the day. Derry were a good side with good players playing that day and they capitalised on our mistakes.
“It is something we will learn from and we have a lot of players still here who played that day. On Sunday we will be looking to get one over on them.”
Saints fans have been waiting 53 years to taste FAI Cup glory again and Buckley admitted yesterday that he won’t be able to rest easy until they finally win the competition again. That said, the barren spell is rarely brought up according to Fagan.
“It’s never talked about among the players and staff. It’s more of a media thing and with fans because we know how much it means to them to end the drought.
“We would love to be the group of players to do it but it doesn’t really get spoke about. It’s just another game and the build-up won’t be different to what it would be on a normal Friday night.
Beyond this season, the former Home Farm schoolboy who spent three years at Manchester United before returning to Ireland via the Glenn Hoddle Academy, Scotland and Spain, is content with life in the SSE Airtricity League but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t consider the right offer from abroad.
“I’ve never tried to manoeuvre a move away from the club but I’m 25 and if a good opportunity came up for myself and worked then I’d have a look at it.
“Otherwise, I’m more than happy to stay playing in the league. I’ve really enjoyed football since I came back here but if something good came up that you couldn’t refuse then of course ever player in the league would look at it.
“Since I moved back to the league, with home comforts, family and friends. I think it plays a part after travelling around for a couple of years. This is my fourth year and I’m definitely enjoying it.”
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