St Patrick's Athletic's Ryan Brennan: 'I'm delighted to get off the mark but I would like to get into double figures'

St. Patrick's Athletic midfielder Ryan Brennan was delighted with his contribution on Monday night scoring the winner in a tightly contested league encounter with Waterford.

He is well aware that, as a team, a goal difference of +3 after 11 games is a stat that needs to be improved if they are to occupy one of the higher positions in the league table come October.

“I’m delighted to get off the mark for the season,” Brennan told extratime.ie.

“It’s good to finally hit the back of the net but obviously for us the three points at home was the most important thing.

“In terms of goals I would like to get into double figures myself and obviously try my best to keep assisting the other lads with goals at the same time.

“It’s important for me to try and stay injury free so I can start as many games as possible and help the team.”

Last season was one to forget for most involved with the Inchicore side as a poor start left them playing catch up for the whole season.

They never really got going and, in the second half of the season, they got dragged into a relegation battle.

Brennan was one of the new additions added to the squad as part of Liam Buckley’s preparation for this season.

And although the results to date don’t really reflect the confident performances that the side have shown, he says as a squad they are learning from their mistakes game by game and are putting in the hours required on the training ground to put things right

“We think we have been massively unlucky in some of our games this season against the likes of Cork at home and Derry away a few weeks ago, to point out a few.

“More so from mistakes that we have made ourselves as a team but we can only deal with them as they come, get on with it and learn as we go.

“We are constantly trying to improve going forward and we are working hard on the training ground daily.

“With a fiercely competitive squad, we are confident within the squad that when lads are called upon they can come in when asked and do a good job.”

The Drogheda native has been involved in the league since making his debut for his hometown club in 2010.

He played three Europa league games with Shamrock Rovers in 2014 exiting to Norwegian side Odds, then moved on to Bray Wanderers in 2017.

With the recent exciting announcement around plans to build a new ground for the club, Brennan is excited by the proposals and the buzz it has created around the club.

“It’s very exciting news for the club, for the area of Inchicore and for the League of Ireland in general.

“I think the likes of Derry paving the way with the Brandywell for a better standard of stadium and overall facilities will maybe start to rub off on others.

“Now with St Pats looking to follow suit, it is a massive boost and a massive change but one that will be a positive move in the development of the club.”

The Saints take on Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday evening as they look to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time this season.