St Patrick’s Athletic’s second half performance earned them the three points as they overcame a half-time deficit to beat Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park.

Behind to Romeo Parkes’ opener on 22 minutes, the Saints turned the course of this game courtesy of a Glen McAuley strike on 51 followed by Dave Webster’s winner six minutes from time.

Having both taken six points from their last five games, the sides struggled to provide much in terms of free-flowing football in the opening exchanges.

Glen McAuley carved out two early chances but both efforts were easy for Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty to deal with.

The Saints won’t have been happy with what they produced early on, but were the most threatening in front of the target.

Gary Shaw’s turn taking him past John Mahon 20 minutes in, but McGinty was again comfortable.

Rovers, in search of a second win in a week, had their first sight at goal two minutes later.

David Cawley’s strength bought him time inside the Saints area before the Mayo man supplied Parkes. But the Jamaican’s effort lacked accuracy as he fired wide off the outside of his boot.

This heralded Sligo’s purple patch and they made the most of it 22 minutes in.

Kris Twardek was afforded too much room down the Pat’s left as he squared for Parkes who slotted home from close range for his eighth goal of the year.

Harry Kenny’s charges finished the half the stronger but were again found wanting when and where it mattered.

McGinty pulled off smart stop to deny Shaw from point blank, while the same man seemed to lose his bearings as he stooped in his attempt to turn Dean Clarke’s cross past the Scot at his front post.

The Dubliners began the second period much the brighter and were rewarded for their efforts six minutes in.

Having netted his first for the club in the FAI Cup last week, McAuley’s neat touch brought him past his marker before he fired past McGinty from the angle.

Twardek’s snapshot wasn’t far away just short of the hour, while Lewis Banks’ last-ditch tackle deflected Cian Coleman’s shot over McGinty’s goal. This after the midfielder barged his way past Dante Leverock.

Pat’s were well in control at this stage and looked clear favourites for the game’s third goal.

Shaw came close with a glancing header in the pouring rain on 77. While the Showgrounds side spurned a glorious chance to rob one against the run of play.

Daryl Fordyce cushioned substitute Ronan Murray’s cross into the path of the waiting Twardek who could only fire over from six yards.

Clarke and Lee Desmond both went close in quick succession, before Pat’s had their winner six minutes from time.

Webster rising highest to nod Jamie Lennon’s set piece to the net for what was the winner for the home side.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Lee Desmond, Kevin Toner, Dave Webster, Ian Bermingham; Darragh Markey, Cian Coleman, Jamie Lennon; Dean Clarke, Gary Shaw (Ronan Hale 77), Glen McAuley (Jake Walker 89).   

Sligo Rovers: Ed MicGinty; Johnny Dunleavy (John Russell 75), Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle Callan-McFadden (Sam Warde 61); David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce; Kris Twardek, Regan Donelon (Ronan Murray 65); Romeo Parkes.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Attendance: 1,217.  

Sligo Rovers produced their biggest ever FAI Cup win as they put eight past Glebe North at Market Green.

Both David Cawley and Kris Twardek bagged a hat-trick, while Regan Donelon and Dante Leverock added to Rovers’ haul as the Showgrounds side registered the result of the night.

Looking for their first win in this competition since 2016, it was Rovers who were well in charge throughout.

Donelon had first sight at goal eight minutes in, while Noel Barrett’s volley was a simple take for Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty two minutes later.

This was Glebe’s only attempt at goal of the half before Sligo, heavy favourites to progress, hit the lead 12 minutes in.

Daryl Fordyce allowed Lewis Banks’ ball from deep all the way across to Cawley who neatly clipped the ball beyond Alan O’Connor and into the top corner.

The Premier Division side were dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle in both 2017 and 2018 and Liam Buckley would have been adamant that lightning not strike for a third time.

Glebe’s Keith Murray swept Kris Twardek’s shot off the line 23 minutes in, but Rovers would return a quarter hour later to double their lead.

Full back Donelon making the most of the space in front of him as he rocketed the ball past O’Connor from all of 25 yards.

Cawley had his brace five minutes into the second half. Well off his line, O’Connor came to meet Banks whose initial effort he pushed away.

But Cawley was on hand to fire over the stranded ‘keeper and into an empty goalmouth.

Leverock made it four three minutes later. 

While the Leinster Senior League outfit fell further behind on 65 minutes. Twardek rewarded for his endeavour down the Sligo wing when he fired home having linked up with Banks.

Cawley had his hat-trick and Rovers’ sixth on 76 when he chipped O’Connor from close range.

While Twardek had his brace when the Canadian rounded O’Connor four minutes later. All too simple for the Bit O’Red.

The Canadian rounded off a successful night for both himself and the north westerners when he tapped home a penalty on the stroke of full-time.

Sligo Rovers 3-2 Cabinteely

A Mark Byrne brace followed up Aaron Perry’s opener, as Sligo Rovers under 19s did enough to progress past Cabinteely in the quarter-final of the Enda McGuill Under 19 Cup at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

Perry had the Bit O’Red in the lead with seven minutes played.

Darren Collins’ through ball finding the impressive Jack O’Connor. O’Connor’s initial effort came back off the post, but Perry was alert to tap into an empty net.

Rovers were well on top early on and Collins went close again on eleven minutes. But a lapse in concentration cost the home side dearly when Andy Byrne pounced for the equaliser on 23 minutes.

Both O’Connor and Collins had opportunities to stretch Rovers’ lead further, while Byrne went close with a header four minutes from the break.

Byrne had his first on 53 minutes, finishing off Liam White’s cross at the second attempt.

While Brian Dorrian’s side looked comfortable when Byrne slotted home from the penalty spot after O’Connor was taken down in front of goal.

The Dubliners kept things interesting on the stroke of full time when Jack Savage’s set-piece found its way past Cormac Henry in the Sligo nets.

But Rovers held on to proceed to the last four.

Sligo Rovers: Henry, Lynch, White, Smith, O’Reilly, McGrath, McAllister, Perry, Collins, Byrne, O’Connor.

Subs used: Devanney, Stallard, O’Toole, Martin.

Cabinteely: Clarke, Kelly, O’Reilly, Egan, Whelan, Bermingham, Andy Byrne, Aaron Byrne, Idele, Savage, Quinlivan.

Subs used: Perry, Hyland, O’Neill, Curran.

A goal a piece from Sligo Rovers and Cliftonville saw the sides play out a draw at the Showgrounds.

Substitute Niall Watson gave the Bit O’Red the lead on his first appearance for the club.

The Belfast side equalised through Conor McMenanmin.

Rovers: McNicholas; Dunleavy, Leverock, Mahon, Banks; Twardek, Cawley, Warde, Donelon; Parkes, Coughlan.

Subs used: Fordyce, Watson, Morley.

Sligo Rovers’ game with Dundalk, scheduled for this coming Saturday, August 3rd has been postponed.

This is due to the Lilywhites’ involvement in Europe.

The game will be rescheduled at a further date.

Sligo Rovers stretched their unbeaten run at home to ten as they drew with Bohemians at the Showgrounds.

The last side to beat the Bit O’Red in Sligo, Bohs took the lead courtesy of a Danny Mandriou spot-kick on 37 minutes.

But Rovers pegged the Gypsies back before the break through David Cawley’s third goal of the season.

Both camps had goal-scoring opportunities during an entertaining opening.

Looking to stretch that unbeaten record on their own patch, it was Rovers who were presented with the game’s first chance.

Lewis Banks nodding the ball into the path of Daryl Fordyce, whose effort from close range lacked the required power as James Talbot easily claimed.

Bohs debutant Andrew Wright had his drive at goal blocked down by a series of Sligo legs from a disguised indirect free-kick nine yards from goal.

This after Ed McGinty handled a back pass from Kyle Callan-McFadden.

The Dubliners then had to rely on their skipper Derek Pender to bravely block down Romeo Parkes’ shot after Ronan Coughlan’s through ball.

Michael Barker’s header from a Luke Wade-Slater corner then sailed narrowly over Ed McGinty’s crossbar shortly before the half-hour.

Eyeing a second win in Sligo this season, Bohs had their lead eight minutes from the break.

Danny Kane tripped Wade-Slater inside the area. Mandriou slotting home from 12 yards, sending McGinty the wrong way in the process.

Liam Buckley’s charges were to have their leveller before the interval however.

Cawley turning Kris Twardek’s driven cross from the right beyond Talbot.

Mandriou’s left-footer from the edge of the box then skimmed off the top of the Rovers crossbar on the hour. The visitors looking the more dangerous on the ball. 

McGinty had to watch Keith Buckley’s shot all the way on 72 after Cawley conceded possession inside his own half.

There were half chances for either side late on, but a winner was to prove elusive.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Danny Kane; Kyle Callan-McFadden; Daryl Fordyce, David Cawley; Kris Twardek, Romeo Parkes; Ronan Coughlan.

Bohemians: James Talbot; Derek Pender, Michael Barker, James Finnerty, Darragh Leahy; Luke Wade-Slater, Keith Buckley, Conor Levingston, Kevin Devaney (Danny Grant 68); Danny Mandriou; Andre Wright.

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 2,011

Derry City returned to winning ways with victory over Sligo Rovers at a rain-soaked Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Winger Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe netted his seventh goal in as many games, while teenager Jack Malone netted his first goal for the club.

After a 40 minute delay because of floodlight failure, it was the home side who started the better in the opening stages.

In fact Derry missed a glorious chance on three minutes as Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe’s run and cross from the left found an unmarked David Parkhouse, but the Sheffield United loanee side-footed over with the goal at his mercy. Soon after Parkhouse went even closer. This time Jamie McDonagh’s super right wing centre found the Strabane man, but his header at the near post was saved by Rovers ‘keeper Edward McGinty.

Minutes later a stunning Ronan Murray pass released Romeo Parkes, but after racing clear of the Derry defence the Rovers striker’s shot was well kept out by Derry ‘keeper Peter Cherrie.

That missed chance came back to haunt the visitors as Derry took the lead on 21 minutes as Parkhouse’s clever lay-off found Ogedi-Uzokwe, the winger cut in from the left before side-footing home, clipping off McGinty’s left hand post on the way into the net.

Liam Buckley’s side should have equalised soon after when Daniel Kane’s right wing cross found Parkes, but the front man’s miss hit effort from 10 yards sailed well off target. Derry doubled their lead right at the start of the second half as Ogedi-Uzokwe bamboozled John Dunleavy, before cutting the ball back to McDonagh, who made no mistake blasting high into the net from 10 yards.

The home side added a superb third goal on 79 minutes when following a stunning passing move, young substitute Malone played a one-two with Greg Sloggett, before firing home from some 25 yards.

Rovers’ night was summed up minutes later as Ronan Coughlan fired over from close range, after the ball fell perfectly to him inside the six yard box. The woodwork came to Sligo’s rescue deep into stoppage time as substitute Michael McCrudden saw his shot on the turn come back off the post.

Derry City: Cherrie, McDonagh, Cole, Gilchrist, Coll; Bruna, Harkin, Sloggett (McCrudden 82); Ogedi-Uzokwe (McCauley 75), Parkhouse, Davis (Malone 63).

Sligo Rovers: McGinty, Banks, Warde (Twardek 59), Callan-McFadden, Dunleavy, Coughlan, Fordyce, Murray (Donelon 73), Kane, Mahon, Parkes.

Romeo Parkes missed a first half penalty as Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw with Waterford at the Showgrounds.

There was further anguish for the Bit O’Red as they finished the game without defender Dante Leverock. The Bermudan dismissed four minutes from time having been shown a second yellow card. 

Both sides produced three goals each in their last meeting as the RSC, but this game was to pass without either goalkeeper breached.

Rovers’ Ronan Coughlan had an early chance before Michael O’Connor’s header from a Tom Holland free from deep looped over Ed McGinty’s crossbar.

Parkes’ first touch took him away from a Waterford defender after he controlled a Ronan Murray cross on the quarter hour. But Parkes’ resulting effort was deflected away.

Last May’s game also saw both teams miss a penalty each and Parkes continued this tradition on 18 minutes.

The Jamaican denied by Matthew Connor from twelve yards after Danny Kane was tripped by O’Connor.

The Blues’ net-minder also keeping out Murray’s follow-up.

This sucked the wind from the Rovers sails as Alan Reynolds’ charges finished the half the stronger.

Jonathan Lunney’s drive from 25 yards not too far away from McGinty’s post after the attacker dinked his way past two Sligo challenges. But this was the best the away side could muster before the break.

Waterford threatened after the re-start courtesy of the lively Cory Galvin and again on 66 through O’Connor as the two thousand strong support awaited an opener.

Galvin gave the Rovers defence plenty of cause for concern and went close once more on 67 when his effort from the angle smacked back off the Sligo’s woodwork.

While Connor was comfortable dealing with David Cawley’s shot from the edge of the box after Parkes shifted play into the path of the Mayo man.

Maxim Kouogun wasted a glorious opportunity with twelve to go when Johnny Dunleavy’s lack of urgency allowed the centre half in. But his ballooned effort flew well over the Sligo goal with just McGinty to beat.

O’Connor’s next go suffered a similar fate minutes before Rovers were reduced to ten when Leverock was shown his second yellow after a late challenge on Galvin.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Johnny Dunleavy, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Dante Leverock, Danny Kane; Romeo Parkes, Daryl Fordyce (John Russell 68), David Cawley, Kris Twardek; Ronan Coughlan (Sam Warde 61), Ronan Murray (John Mahon 87). 

Waterford: Matthew Connor; Rory Feely, Kenny Browne, Maxim Kouogun, Kevin Lynch (Georgie Poynton 56); Jonathan Lunney, Tom Holland, Shane Duggan; Dean O’Halloran (William Fitzgerald 76), Michael O’Connor, Cory Galvin.

Referee: Rob Harvey

Attendance: 2,037

Ed McGinty was Sligo Rovers’ hero as the Bit O’Red emerged from a second half Shamrock Rovers onslaught, to take a point from Tallaght.

McGinty pulled off several impressive stops in each half to repeatedly deny the home side.

The Hoops even had goalkeeper Alan Mannus in the Rovers box for two late corners, but Rovers held out.

Jack Byrne, instrumental in Sligo’s last visit to Dublin 24, showed form once more and went close early on.

His cheeky turn past his marker allowed him time and space to launch an effort at goal from the edge of the area.

The in-form McGinty doing enough to keep the Irish international at bay.

The Bit O’Red were sloppy in their distribution from the back at times and almost paid for this on 19 minutes.

A loose ball from deep was set upon by Dylan Watts whose initial effort was blocked.

Possession falling to Sean Kavanagh who steadied himself before blasting over from ten yards.

Debutant Graham Cummins should have had the Hoops ahead three minutes from the break.

Unmarked and with Sligo’s centre halves and sixes and sevens, the former Cork City man could only crack his free header from a Greg Bolger cross straight on to McGinty’s crossbar.

The Scot continued to keep the westerners in this. Twice denying Kavanagh before the break with a couple of fine stops.

McGinty was at it again moments after the re-start as he got a finger-tip to Byrne’s belter from distance.

While the same man was alert to come and meet Cummins to block down the striker’s go at goal just before the hour.

It remained one way traffic and McGinty was again the hero as he spread himself to divert Cummins’ next effort away.

Substitute Dan Carr could only drag his effort from the angle wide of the target on 65 with Stephen Bradley’s charges remaining frustrated.

McGinty then had to push Watts’ cross on to his own crossbar with fifteen to go as the Dubliners continued to smother Sligo with pressure.

Cummins, Carr and Gary O’Neill all had chances to convert as news of Derry’s late leveller against Dundalk filtered through.

However, Rovers somehow held out for a valuable point on the road.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Sean Kavanagh; Dylan Watts (Aaron Greene 76), Greg Bolger (Gary O’Neill 63); Jack Byrne, Ronan Finn (Dan Carr 59), Trevor Clarke; Graham Cummins.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Dante Leverock; Jonny Dunleavy, Lewis Banks; David Cawley (Niall Morahan 77), John Russell (Sam Warde 67); Ronan Murray (Kris Twardek 67), Romeo Parkes; Ronan Coughlan.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 2,612.

Finn Harps claimed their first win in six as they overcame Sligo Rovers at Finn Park.

Goals in either half from Nathan Boyle means the Ballybofey side take full advantage of UCD’s defeat to Pat’s, moving ahead of the Students although with three more games played.

Rovers produced their only shot on target of a poor opening half for Liam Buckley’s men, shortly after kick-off.

Harps net minder Mark McGinley keeping an eye on Sam Warde’s bending set-piece to push the ball to safety.

The home side went about their business with superior purpose and Boyle won’t be on the end of many better opportunities this season, as he was on seven minutes.  

Loose at the front post, he could only nod Raffaele Cretaro’s cross to the front post off the Sligo goal-frame with Ed McGinty well beaten.

The home side looked more likely to draw first blood and were just inches away from the lead on the quarter hour.

Cretaro picked Kyle Callan-McFadden’s pocket inside the Sligo half before sending a vicious shot towards goal which McGinty fumbled.

The Rovers goalkeeper recovering in time to keep the ball the safe side of his goal-line.

With just two wins to their name going into this tie, Ollie Horgan’s boys hit the lead on 28 and without much argument.

Boyle making no mistake this time as he placed Mark Russell’s cross from the left beyond McGinty at the first go.

Rovers did go close before the interval courtesy of Warde via a Kris Twardek lay-off.

While David Cawley could only watch on as his half-volley pulled wide of McGinley’s goal early in the second half.

Twardek’s leap then allowed him meet a Cawley corner mid-way through the second half, but the Canadian could only steer the ball over McGinley’s goal.

But Harps extinguished any potential comeback and effectively secured victory twelve minutes from time.

A mix up in the Rovers midfield allowing Cretaro break free.

The ex-Sligo attacker biding his time before squaring for Boyle who was left with a relatively simple finish.

Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Daniel O’Reilly, Keith Cowan, Sam Todd; Jacob Borg, Mark Russell; Mark Coyle, Gareth Harkin; Raff Cretaro (Tony McNamee 83), Caolan McAleer (Harry Ascroft 74); Nathan Boyle (Mikey Place 89).   

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Johnny Dunleavy, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Lewis Banks; Kyle Callan-McFadden (John Russell HT); Sam Warde; David Cawley (Jack Keaney 71), Kris Twardek; Ronan Murray, Romeo Parkes. 

Referee: Tomas Connolly.