STEPHEN KENNY insisted that Conference League qualification – nevermind the league title – is still a long shot for his St Patrick’s Athletic side.
But he admitted that he is loving life back in the League of Ireland as his in-form St Patrick’s Athletic sweep aside everyone they face at present.
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Kenny’s Saints beat league leaders Shelbourne 3-2 on Monday night that made it five league wins in a row and 15 goals scored on that run.
It moved them up to fifth in the table with four games remaining and just two points off third place and guaranteed Conference League qualification next season.
It also keeps them in the hunt for the title as they now trail Shelbourne by just seven points.
Were it a normal season, that gap would be too big now. But it has not been a normal season.
Pat’s title hopes would be over if Shelbourne win two more games, Derry City win three or their remaining five, or Shamrock Rovers or Galway United win all their games.
But Shels have one win in their last nine, Derry have one in their last seven, while both the Hoops and Galway cannot match the Saints current run of form.
Yet Kenny insisted the focus must remain on his own team rather than get distracted by others.
He said: “We’re not even thinking about that, it’s not our concern, all we can do is keep winning matches and let’s see, we’ve still a lot to do I feel.
“We don’t know if it’s three teams or four teams (to qualify for Europe from the league). We’re not in the driving seat, we’ve tough games as well.”
While they are in Leinster Senior Cup action next week, their next league game is not until a visit to Bohemians on Monday week, before facing Galway, Derry and then Sligo Rovers.
And Kenny acknowledged he wishes the season was longer having loved getting back to work with the Saints in May.
He said: “Of course, we’d love that, but that’s not reality so that’s the way it goes. I’m finding a rhythm myself
“There are a lot of fine, excellent young coaches in the league now.
“John Russell in Sligo the way they’re playing, Ruaidhrí (Higgins) in Derry, Stephen Bradley of course at Rovers, and Damien (Duff).
“I’m leaving people but there are a lot of very good coaches and it’s exciting to be amongst that.
“I’m at home on the training ground. I like that aspect of preparing a team, I like the challenges that a lot of the young coaches are coming in.
“Every week is different, every week the tactical challenge is different.
“I feel I’m improving myself and I feel I’ve gained valuable experience that has helped me, and I want to get better.
“And I think you’re always looking to improve. So there are different tactical challenges, the league is quite tactical now, everyone plays a different way. So it is interesting.”
FINE FORM
But his team have hit form as the season has gone on – their own defeat since mid-July was to Basaksehir in the Conference League.
And Kenny hailed his team and, in particular, Brandon Kavanagh who was crucial to the victory over Shelbourne.
He said: “He’s played a high percentage of his games in his career in wide areas.
“For him to play in a big Dublin derby against Rovers or Shels in a central area, that’s a big change for him.
“He could always be good playing in teams that maybe you’re better than, but for him, his kilometres and high speed running are off the charts.
“And those are attributes that I wouldn’t have attributed to him before, he was always a creative player. He’s becoming an all round player.
“We’ve a lot of competition in that area so I think it’s great to see that, so a lot of players, making a contribution, making a squad effort.
“But we’ve a lot to do, and we’ve tough games left.”
