Conan Byrne: St Pat's have lacked hunger and drive

Coan Byrne says a "lack of hunger and drive" is behind St Patrick's Athletic's frustrating inconsitency as a tough week ended with the departure of boss Jon Daly.

The Saints slipped to a 1-0 loss at Sligo Rovers on Bank Holiday Monday that left them fourth from bottom, just a point ahead of the Bit O'Red who have a game in hand.

Former Pat's striker Byrne was speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast before the news of Daly's exit broke.

Reflecting on their patchy campaign to date, he said: "I've seen a lack of hunger, a weakness maybe within the squad. Take the goal (against Sligo), (Jake) Mulraney was pushed off the ball way too easily and Jamie Lennon in midfield should be coming and winning that challenge right in the middle of the park. He doesn't when usually he woud.

"Don't take anything away from Ellis Chapman's strike, it was a wonderful strike.

"But even Pat's missed chances beforehand, Ruairi Keating had a wonderful opportunity in or around the eighth minute, then Conor Keeley up from the back for a setpiece should have scored as well. So they are missing chances.

"There probably was an over-reliance on Keating at the start of the season and when he got injured there was nobody to fil that void."

News of Jon Daly's departure as St Pat's boss broke just after the RTÉ Soccer Podcast was recorded this morning - Conan Byrne assessed the Saints patchy form this campaign and the frustrations that have come with it https://t.co/woZQLm4xlu #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/AmtfyY3m4B

Daly led St Pat's to the FAI Cup last year having made a massively positive impact upon his arrival in Inchicore. However it's unravelled quickly, with the club opting to make a change 15 games into the campaign.

"They're just so inconsistent in their play and