KEITH FAHEY HAS had three different spells with St Patrick’s Athletic, but he probably won’t be expecting a good reception when he returns to Richmond Park with his new club Shamrock Rovers.
Fahey, who’ll make his competitive home debut for Rovers against Cork City tomorrow evening, made the switch to Tallaght in November after a season in Inchicore that ended with FAI Cup success.
But it’s clear that the former Irish international didn’t savour his third stint with Pat’s. At a press conference at Tallaght Stadium yesterday, Fahey was reluctant to delve into exactly what it was that left him unhappy, but he did allude to the set-up at Rovers being slightly more professional.
“It wasn’t an enjoyable year,” said the ex-Birmingham City midfielder when reflecting on 2014 with St Pat’s. “I didn’t enjoy my year down there, no. I won a cup with Pat’s and I enjoyed that, but since I’ve come here it’s probably the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
“I’m just happier here, to be honest. There was a decision to be made at the end of last season and I feel I’ve made the right one.”
Fahey made his first appearance for Shamrock Rovers in last weekend’s 2-0 win away to Longford Town, which left the Hoops joint-top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with two games played.
The 32-year-old added: “I’m just happier here. Going into training is more enjoyable. There is more organisation around things and things seem to be done to a higher spec here, to be honest.
“It’s nothing to do with bigger clubs or smaller clubs. I’m enjoying going into training day to day. That’s the main thing, coming into training and working with the people I’m working with.”
This seems like a strange comment, he was a Pats legend before he went to Shams, does he want the Pats fans to hate him as much as possible?
I don’t think it’s about that. He has been outspoken about the state of the League of Ireland since returning, and I think he’s just telling it as it is.
I hardly imagine he’s thinking “oh, this will really get to them”. There are far easier ways to do that.
I remember last year when asked about an international recall he said he’d be nowhere near ready given the lack of quality training and lack of quality in games which is probably true but a shame to hear,really he should be voicing this to the FAI
I don’t necessarily think he is going out of his way to make them hate him, I was speaking tongue in cheek, but seriously I would have thought, a player who has spent a good portion of his career there, it could also be said that Pats “made him the player he is”. It just all seems disrespectful.
His main point is that pats seem to have a crap set up behind the scenes. Rovers would appear to be running their shop a lot better, albeit success has eluded them recently. Rovers for the title this season imo.
Shams? Have a bit of respect: they’re called Rovers.
We may aswell have played with 10 men last season rather than Fahey. Absolute passenger, kept our groundsman busy fishing balls out of the Camac river from his failed Hollywood passes.
Really no need for his comment. We’ve all moved on.