Previewing the Saints ahead of 2024
Talk of the title has surrounded St. Pat’s throughout the off-season and with a host of new faces coming into Richmond Park after last season’s Cup heroics, Saints fans have every right to be dreaming of the big prize.
Not just resting for that day in the Aviva, Jon Daly has moved fast bringing in reinforcements to a squad that has also lost a couple of bodies.
Sam Curtis’ spectacular season saw him move to Premier League Sheffield United while Adam Murphy also moved to the UK as Bristol City came calling for the talented midfielder.
However, after tying down stars Chris Forrester, Joe Redmond, Kian Leavy and Mason Melia, the Saints have kept the nucleus of an impressive team.
A couple of headline-grabbing signings came in the shape of Marcelo Pitaluga from Liverpool and Ruairi Keating from Cork City after a goal-filled year last season and hopes will be high that the striker can replicate this form again in Richmond Park.
Keating’s form with the Rebels was striking and with added support behind in the likes of Forrester, Leavy and Mulraney, one wonders how much better he can get.
New signings have also come in the shape of Conor Keeley, Aaron Bolger, Cian Kavanagh and Brandon Kavanagh.
Brandon Kavanagh is an interesting one as he arrives after a successful spell in Derry but one where he never really was completely playing week in-week out.
There’s no doubting Kavanagh’s talent though and could fit perfectly into Jon Daly’s system and provide a round of creativity for the strikers ahead.
There’s also new players coming from the UK as Luke Turner and Arran Pettifer come through the door and midfielder Romal Palmer signs on loan from Turkish side Göztepe.
As Tommy Lonergan departs for Fleetwood Town, there has certainly been a lot of change in the Saints squad and though well equipped, there is a risk of too much change versus the consistency in squad that Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Shelbourne have gone with.
Time will tell but their name will most definitely be involved in the title conversations throughout the year.
Finish last season - 3rd
Manager - Jon Daly
Key player - Ruairi Keating
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