UEFA Conference League preview: St Patrick's Athletic set sights on third round as Shelbourne play for pride

Thursday 1 August

UEFA Conference League - Second Round Qualifying second legs
Vaduz (Liechtenstein) v St Patrick's Athletic, Rheinpark Stadion, 6.30pm - Pat's lead 3-1 on aggregate.

Shelbourne v FC Zurich (Switzerland), Tolka Park, 7.45pm - Zurich lead 3-0 on aggregate.

Coverage

Live scores and match reports on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.

The state of play

After something of a disappointing campaign for Irish sides in the Conference League so far, St Patrick's Athletic produced a great performance to take a two-goal lead to Liechtenstein this evening.

Shelbourne came through one round but were very much second best against FC Zurich last week.

A 3-0 scoreline was probably kind on Shels against an opposition levels above. The Drumcondra side missed a couple of shots in the game but the rest of the fixture was very much damage limitation.

Progress tonight is extremely unlikely, pride is at stake for Damien Duff's side.

What changed for the Saints?

The win was a long time coming for Stephen Kenny.

Narrow victories over Galway United and Shamrock Rovers were all he had secured since taking over in mid-May.

Last week's performance was the most heartening thing for the Saints supporters and the hope is it could prove a turning point.

Having been eliminated from the FAI Cup and being closer to the relegation play-off than the top four, it was an amply timed result that could prove a platform.

Aidan Keena has arrived in what is an extremely exciting signing for Pat's as Kenny continues to chisel his squad together. Ruairi Keating departed on the same day.

Jake Mulraney really delivered on the night, including a spectacular free-kick, when he has not always found his top form. Kenny may be on the cusp of getting the best out of