Hearts scrape win, but Irish will not be easy for Celtic

From the archive

15 Jul 1998

St Patrick's Athletic...0 Hearts...1

WHENEVER, even if ever, Gerard Houllier finally becomes the new manager of Celtic, his first competitive task will be to overcome St Patrick's Athletic of Dublin in the Champions' League next Wednesday.

To that end, he could try to lay his hands on a recording of this pre-season friendly.

Last night's game at Richmond Park (or ''the Stadium of Light'', as Pats' larger-than-life manager, Pat Dolan, would have it) bore all the characteristics of Irish clubs' recent adventures against foreign opposition.

As so often in the past, the Dublin side had the better of it throughout, but they failed to capitalise - and, ultimately, it was a late goal by Hearts against the run of play that killed off their hopes.

The chance to take on Scottish opposition so close to next week's game made this a big occasion for Pat's.

Their 21-year-old forward, Trevor Molloy, seemed especially motivated, particularly during a dominant first-half display.

Molloy made his name in the Republic of Ireland side that finished third in last year's world under-20 championship in Malaysia and, last night, his first impact came after 15 minutes, with an exceptional run through the Hearts defence, culminating in a shot that had goalkeeper Gilles Rousset well beaten, but it thumped off the far post.

A similar Molloy move just before half-time finished with another shot, but although he hit the target this time, Rousset got down well to make the save.

All of which gave the home side great heart after an opening quarter of an hour that had been dominated by the Scottish cup holders.

Inside the first minute, Stephane Adam had exposed an unsettled home defence to set up a shooting chance for Thomas Flugel, who might have expected to do better with his attempt.

Adam starred early on, playing a clever ball through to Steve Fulton, who fired just outside the far post, and turning well to get in a shot of his own.

Still, the first-half failed to produce any goals, a fact that would have been of more disappointment to Pat's than to their visitors.

Indeed, Hearts had reason to be satisfied with another useful performance from new signing Rob McKinnon, who was solid at the back and developed an increasing confidence in going forward before being substituted at half-time.

After the break, Hearts began to show a little more urgency, with Adam and Fulton both producing long range shots that forced good diving from Trevor Wood.

Substitute Jose Quitongo was not the inspiration he had been against Bohemians, but Hearts had always looked more likely to score, and so it proved with just five minutes to go.

Lee Makel's shot was palmed away by Wood but stayed in play long enough for substitute Derek Holmes to slide it in across goal.

It was a story so familiar to Irish sides in matches against cross channel opposition, with the visitors finding it sufficient to expose the defence only once.

There was plenty to be satisfied with, though, for the Irish, including a useful performance from Jeff Clarke.

The 20-year-old Canadian, who has already represented his country at full international level, saved Pat's on several occasions at the back, and started to go forward in the closing stages.

There were also some encouraging attacking moves from Leon Braithwaite, the brother of British Olympic sprinter Darren, in the second half.

Generally, it seems that Celtic can expect Dolan's combination of youthful stars and established veterans to play with the same positive style that won them Ireland's National League Premier Division title in May.

Their last remaining match before the European encounter is another friendly, at home to Norwich City, on Saturday.

St Patrick's Athletic - Wood, Burke, Clarke, Lynch, Hawkins, Gormley, Gilzean, Morgan, Braithwaite, Molloy, Russell.

Hearts - Rousset, Locke, McKinnon, Pressley, Salvatori, Ritchie, Flugel, Fulton, Adam, Makel, Hamilton.

Substitutes - Murray , Naismith, McKenzie, Quitongo, Holmes.

Referee - Paul Kehoe (Dublin).

Taken from the Herald