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McDonnell urges players to make history

John McDonnell is hoping St Pat's can cause an upset and reach the UEFA Cup ground stages
John McDonnell is hoping St Pat's can cause an upset and reach the UEFA Cup ground stages

<notforsyndication>The UEFA Cup first round, second leg match at the RDS between Saint Patrick's Athletic v Hertha Berlin will be broadcast on RTÉ Two, RTÉ Radio 1 (LW and DAB) and RTÉ.ie from 4.45pm.</notforsyndication>

<notforsyndication>Click here for online coverage.</notforsyndication>

St Patrick's Athletic boss John McDonnell has told his players they are just 90 minutes away from making history ahead of his side's UEFA Cup first round, second leg match with Hertha Berlin.

No Irish side has ever made it to the league stages of a European competition.

'We're 90 minutes away from potentially a huge change for everyone and everything at this club but we need to put that to the back of our minds for now,' he said.

'We'll need to be in control, we have plans in place for the game but it's important we don't get done on the counter-attack.'

McDonnell has Jason Gavin and Derek O'Brien back in the squad after the duo were rested for the Fingal game.

Dessie Byrne is an injury doubt for the game having suffered a knock on Friday, but John Murphy should be fit for at least a place on the bench.

Meanwhile Hertha Berlin coach Lucien Favre will be hoping his players forget their indifferent league form as they go all out to reach the group stage.

Hertha will have to make do without midfielder Gojko Kacar because of the calf injury which also kept him out of the Cottbus defeat.

Also unavailable is Germany Under-21 star Patrick Ebert, who is set to undergo surgery on a groin problem and will be out for around four weeks.

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