Jake Mulraney feels the goals will flow for St Patrick's Athletic after a challenging time for the Inchicore club.
Stephen Kenny’s side have gone from a team tipped by many at the start of the campaign to claim a league title, to one languishing in sixth place and 17 points adrift of table-toppers Shamrock Rovers.
With just one goal from open play in six league games, the glaring issue is there for all to see, with the Saints scoring just 27 goals in 25 league games.
Last week saw a European distraction when Lithuanian side Hegelmann were defeated 1-0 at Richmond Park.
The UEFA Conference League clash was settled with a late penalty as Pat’s again struggled to really test the opposition goalkeeper, but winger Jake Mulraney feels confidence remains high within the camp ahead of Thursday’s return leg.
"Absolutely, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be confident," Mulraney said when asked if the players felt good about their chances of progress.
"There is no point in being negative. With the players we have in the changing room, we have got to have that bit of belief.
"I think we have been performing well. We have created chances, just not put the ball in the back of the net. The fact we are playing well, and hurting teams, that keeps the boys’ confidence higher than people would probably think."
Aidan Keena’s 81st-minute penalty was Pats’ 20th attempt on the Hegelmann goal on the night, and it ended more than 400 minutes since their last goal, Simon Power’s consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat to Galway United last month.
Few could have seen such a drought coming, yet Mulraney remains optimistic that that will be rectified over the coming games.
"I know what we have in the changing room. The goal drought was very unexpected, even when we weren’t as playing as we are now, we were still scoring goals.
"We have the firepower in the changing room to turn this around."
'I don't think I’m far off’ – @CorkTOD asks @stpatsfc wide player Jake Mulraney how close he is to recapturing last season’s form ahead of their European assignment in Lithuania pic.twitter.com/kyWj9pVTpi
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 15, 2025
Back in January the 29-year-old committed his long-term future to the club having arrived ahead of the 2023 campaign after spells in England, Scotland and the USA.
The winger had a brilliant season last year, scoring nine goals in 37 appearances – including a brace in a European victory over Vaduz as well as creating a raft of chances for his team-mates.
The former Orlando City player, who has yet to score himself this campaign, was asked by RTÉ Sport if he felt his form is getting back to where he wants it to be.
"I don’t think I was great at the start of the year," he said. "Coming into the European games this year, the past four games I have been feeling better in myself, more attack-minded.
"I feel like I have gotten back into my old form in terms of dribbling past people, exciting people.
"I just need to add the numbers that I had last year."
