Bermingham preparing for "11 Cup finals"

St Patrick's Athletic captain Ian Bermingham says the team is preparing for "11 Cup finals" as they seek to avoid relegation from the Airtricity League Premier Division.

Liam Buckley's side, champions as recently as 2013, lie tenth in the 12-team Premier Division in the final relegation place as they prepare to take on third-placed Bray Wanderers on Friday at Richmond Park, a match that will be shown live on eir sport 2 [kick-off 8.00pm Irish time].

But Bermingham says confidence is high following last Friday's 2-1 home win over Derry City, and the 28-year-old hopes to keep up the momentum against Bray, before three crucial matches against bottom-of-the-table Drogheda,  ninth-placed Sligo and eighth-placed Finn Harps.

"We are coming into the business end of the season, with 11 games and 11 Cup finals," he told eir sport.

"These are probably the most important 11 games this club has ever played.

"We had a good win against Derry, we have got Bray on Friday and then the three games after that are the three teams around us.

"If we can go on a run we will shoot back up the table."

Bermingham believes the signings of former Crystal Palace and Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan, St Pats' legend Killian Brennan and Dutch defender Jordi Balk has given the club a real boost ahead of a crucial set of fixtures.

"You can see the quality of the three lads in training, and in the friendly against Hearts, where all three of them were excellent," he continued.

"Back in 2013 when we won the league, Daryl Kavanagh came in halfway through the season and injected something extra.

"Sometimes you need that, and hopefully the three lads can have a similar impact."

Photo Inpho/Tommy Dickson

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