Saints bow out after pushing Besiktas hard

IF THERE is such a thing as a defeat with honour then this was it.

- BY GARRY DOYLE

St Patrick's Athletic, with a turnover half of Besiktas’ star player Tammy Abraham's salary, went to Istanbul in the Conference League and gave the Turkish giants a serious fright.

At one stage, just before halftime, they led 2-0 on the night, albeit still trailing 4-3 on aggregate but then an unfortunate goal - credited to Demir Ege Tiknoz - turned this tie.

Had Tiknoz's strike not deflected off Joe Redmond then who knows how much of a confidence boost St Pat's would have received by making it to halftime 2-0 ahead?