David Cawley’s late goal was not enough as Sligo Rovers were beaten by St Patrick’s Athletic.

Chris Forrester and a Mikey Drennan penalty had given the Saints the advantage. Rovers were impressive for periods in the second half but couldn’t find the net until Cawley’s goal two minutes from time.

A generally dour opening to the game was thankfully lifted nine minutes later with a moment of inspiration from Forrester.

Sligo central defender John Mahon miscontrolled a long ball over the top with his chest. It ran loose into the path of Forrester who nonchalantly lobbed the ball over ‘keeper Mitchell Beeney for his first goal for the club since his cross channel return.

The visitors were stretched six minutes later as Dave Webster’s ball down the right gave Drennan a run. The striker bustled his way past Lewis Banks to bring a save with his body from Beeney.

Pat’s had their second when Drennan was granted a fortuitous penalty on 24 minutes.

Though Forrester was fouled following a clever dribble, referee Rob Hennessy played an advantage. The ball broke for Conor Clifford whose low drive sent Beeney diving down to the right corner of his goal to bat the shot away.

The move of the half from St Pat’s was then thwarted by frantic defending a minute before the interval.

Drennan, skipper Ian Bermingham and Clifford were all involved before Forrester’s shot was bravely blocked by Rovers left-back Banks.

With Kris Twardeck on from the restart, Sligo had a little more about them, striker Romeo Parkes audaciously shooting off target from close to the halfway line minutes in.

St Patrick’s soon regained control, however, with the hardworking Clifford rifling a shot narrowly over Beeney’s crossbar just before the hour.

Beeney was worked 12 minutes later by the impressive Forrester confidently hitting a first time volley from distance.

Gary Shaw was then inches from extending St Patrick’s winning margin on 81 minutes, his header from Clifford’s cross shaving the bar.

Despite that, St Pat’s had to endure a nervous finish when Sligo skipper David Cawley drilled home from close range following Banks’ assist on 88 minutes for the visitors’ consolation.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Dave Webster, Ciaran Kelly, Lee Desmond; Simon Madden, Chris Forrester (Cian Coleman 79), Rhys McCabe, Conor Clifford, Ian Bermingham; Gary Shaw (Jake Walker 90+2), Mikey Drennan.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; John Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Niall Morahan (Kris Twardeck h-t), David Cawley; Jack Keaney, Daryl Fordyce (Liam Kerrigan 69), Ronan Coughlan; Romeo Parkes.

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).

Second half strikes from James Finnerty and Dinny Corcoran moved Bohemians into second spot as they saw off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

The Bit O’Red shaded the opening half but a Ronan Murray red card turned this game as a clinical Gypsies enjoyed the more impressive second half.
The Phisboro men finished the game with ten men themselves. Rob Cornwall sent tothe stands eleven minutes from time.

Looking to leap ahead of both Derry and Dundalk, it was Bohs who were responsible for the game’s first chance.

Against his home town club, Kevin Devaney’s smashed effort from out wide on his right foot had Rovers goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney beaten. However the Sligo net minder was left relieved when the ball crashed into the side netting.

Sligo, defeated in each of their last three outings, were the better side in the first half and should have gone ahead on 16 minutes.

Ronan Coughlan did well to control Daryl Fordyce’s cross, but could only blast the ball against James Talbot’s chest from close range.

Having gone close with a low drive from 20 yards out, Murray was involved for all the wrong reasons two minutes from the break.

Referee Derek Tomney adjudged the Mayo man to have dived at the edge of the box.

Murray allowed his frustrations get the best of him when he threw the ball towards the official, resulting in a straight red for the former Dundalk attacker.

Bohs had their own chance to break the seal in added time at the end of the half.

In space at the front post, Darragh Leahy could only hook Devaney’s corner wide as Rovers struggled to deal with the set piece.

The second half was in its infancy when the Dubliners took the lead in spectacular fashion.

Finnerty’s superbly timed, acrobatic effort from Keith Buckley’s cross looping over Beeney and into the net.

Rovers then had Beeney to thank moments later when he got a fingertip to Corcoran’s shot after a clever back heel from fellow ex-Sligo man Keith Ward.

Corcoran mis-timed a free header while unmarked two yards from the target, before Ward fired wide on 69 as Bohs pushed to cement their authority.

The second did arrive on 76.

Corcoran’s initial attempt came back off the post, but with Beeney grounded, there was little work left for the striker to do as he tapped the ball across the line.

Bohs were then reduced to ten three minutes later. Cornwall the last man when he dragged Romeo Parkes to the ground.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Johnny Dunleavy (Kris Twardek 77), Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (Lewis Banks 77); Jack Keaney; Daryl Fordyce (for Dante Leverock 55), David Cawley; Ronan Coughlan; Ronan Murray; Romeo Parkes.

Bohemians: James Talbot; Derek Pender, James Finnerty, Rob Cornwall, Darragh Leahy; Conor Levingston, Keith Buckley; Daniel Grant (Ryan Graydon 83), Keith Ward (Aaron Barry 80), Kevin Devaney (Ali Regbha 88); Daniel Corcoran.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Sligo Rovers were knocked out of the EA Sports Cup at the second round stage on Monday evening after they were beaten 2-1 by Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

On a wet night in Donegal, it was the home side who finally broke the deadlock courtesy of a superb Mark Coyle opener.

However, Rovers struck at the death to force extra-time through Dante Leverock.

But it was to be Harps’ night as Stephen Doherty hit the winner five minutes into the added 30 minutes.

Sligo Rovers will put league duties aside this Monday evening when we take on Finn Harps in the EA Sports Cup at Finn Park.

The Bit O’Red are bidding to win the League Cup for the first time since 2010.

Derry City knocked us out at the semi-final stage last season.

Kick-off in Ballybofey is 8pm.

Our next SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game is this Saturday, April 6th when we host Bohemians. Kick-off at the Showgrounds is 7.45pm.

Second-half strikes from David Parkhouse and Ciaron Harkin sealed Derry City’s win over Sligo Rovers.

The Brandywell men had skipper Barry McNamee to thank for the win, as the talented midfielder drove the home side onto a much improved second half display.

Derry gave a full debut to goalkeeper Nathan Gartside, who had to replace the injury Peter Cherrie, while Eoghan Stokes came in for Conor McDermott, who also missed out completely with a groin problem.

As for Rovers boss Liam Buckley, he made five changes to his side which lost to Shamrock Rovers last time out.

It was Derry who went close on 10 minutes but Eoghan Stokes’ left footed strike, which had Rovers keeper Mitchell Beeney beaten, hit the side netting.

Gartside was called into action a minute later as at full stretch he brilliantly tipped over Liam Kerrigan’s super curling 20 yard effort.

Just after the mid-way point of the half Beeney had to make a smart save, to keep out Junior’s 25 yard shot, after Stokes’ clever flick set-up the City winger.

Early in the second half Junior went close but his tame header from Barry McNamee’s left wing cross, never really troubled Beeney and the Rovers keeper easily gathered.

On 57 minutes Beeney dived low to his left to keep out McNamee’s shot on the turn and Stokes’ follow-up strike came back off the post.

Derry deservedly took the lead two minutes later as that McNamee picked up a the loose ball, before playing in Parkhouse, who took a touch and made no mistake drilling the ball low into Beeney’s bottom left hand corner.

Liam Buckley’s men side missed a golden chance to level things on 76 minutes as substitute John Russell, cut the ball back from the left to find Ronan Coughlan, but the striker side footed wide from close range.

On 85 minutes Russell was inches away from equalising but his 20 yard strike whistled just past Gartside’s right hand post.

Deep into stoppage time and as the visitors were pushing forward for an equaliser they were caught on the break with City substitute Gianni Seraf’s pass finding Harkin, who blasted home from the right hand side of the box.

Liam Buckley picked up his first win in charge of Sligo Rovers as the Bit O’Red battled to beat Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

First goals for striker Romeo Parkes and winger Kris Twardek had Rovers in the driving seat.

The Donegal men however, never let their opponents out of sight and pulled one back through Daniel O’Reilly.

Sligo did create chances to put the game to bed, but didn’t require a third as Harps couldn’t fashion an equaliser.

With both sides looking for their first wins of the season, it was the away team who manufactured this contest’s first chance.

The industrious Liam Kerrigan turning his man before firing narrowly over Peter Burke’s goal.

Rovers, who lost skipper Kyle Callan-McFadden mid-way through the half, should have hit the lead on 19.

Parkes latched on to debutant Ronan Murray’s set piece from the wing, but could only nod wide despite finding himself unmarked four yards from goal.

Harps had a chance of their own just 60 seconds later.

Sligo centre half John Mahon allowed a ball bombed forward bounce at the edge of his own area.

Goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney arrived in an effort to salvage the situation but he was beaten to the ball by Nathan Boyle whose attempted lob ended up on the roof of the net.

Buckley’s charges recovered to hit the lead just short of the half hour.

Kris Twardek fed Parkes who timed his run to beat the high Harps line, before taking a touch past Burke and subsequently slotting home for his maiden goal for Rovers.

The second half was four minutes old when Sligo had their second.

Burke had pulled off a smart save to deny Murray’s snapshot but could do little about Twardek’s strike from the resulting corner, which looked to have taken a touch off a defender on its way in.

Ollie Horgan’s men didn’t lie down and halved the deficit on 56.

Loose at the back stick, O’Reilly powered his header past Beeney from a Caolan McAleer corner at the town end of the ground. 

Parkes went close from another headed effort from a Murray free-kick on 78.

While O’Reilly did just enough to divert Dante Leverock’s shot from close range after Jack Keaney’s corner caused trouble in the Harps box.

Finn Harps: Peter Burke; Daniel O’Reilly, Jacob Borg, Keith Cowan; John Kavanagh, Mark Russell (Caolan McAleer 55); Gareth Harkin, Mark Coyle (Niall McGinley 83); Raff Cretaro; Nathan Boyle, Sean Boyd (Mikey Place 79).

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Niall Morahan, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Lewis Banks; Jack Keaney (David Cawley 87), Kyle Callan-McFadden (Sam Warde 24); Kris Twardek, Ronan Murray (Daryl Fordyce 93), Liam Kerrigan; Romeo Parkes.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

The Bit O’Red Supporters’ Trust are hosting a ‘Football Only’ table quiz later this month.

The event, not to be missed, takes place on Friday, November 23rd at 9pm at the Belfry.

Table of four costs just €20, with proceeds going towards Sligo Rovers.

Sligo Rovers travel to Dundalk on Friday for an SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Oriel Park.

The Bit O’Red will be managed by Under-19 boss Brian Dorrian for our final away game of the season.

In team news, Caolan McAleer is suspended. Lee Lynch returns from illness. Gary Boylan is out with an ACL injury.

Dorrian said: “It hasn’t been an easy week of course. Gerard was very good to me and our Under-19 players. He wished the squad well and me personally for these matches and I think that says a lot about him.

“The team have trained for the last few days and we’ve prepared for it in a professional manner after the parting of ways.

“We have to move on and do ourselves justice for these three matches because this group has worked hard all season in order to do their best for the club, the management team and themselves. That is really what these matches are about.

“It’s an honour for me of course and I’m happy to help out the club. But it’s about these players. They will play the best team in the country and I know they can compete well with them and test them. We did that the last time in Oriel Park and in The Showgrounds where 2-0 was not a reflection of the game.

“We’ve a young squad with a lot of talent and over this season they have developed.

“On Friday I’d like them to go out and show what they are about. It’s not going to be easy. There’ll be a huge focus on Dundalk where they are getting ready to lift a trophy.

“We’re coming to show why there is a bright future for our club and why the person that takes over here is going come into a good situation with a lot to work with.”

The Bit O’Red Supporters Trust will hold a Texas Hold’em Poker event in the City Hotel on Sunday, October 28th. The event takes place in support of Sligo Rovers’ youth teams.

The tournament gets underway at 2pm with late registration up until 5pm.

No registration fee is required, buy-in is €30, plus one re-buy or top-up of €20.

Final two tables will be dealer dealt by Adelaide Casino, Sligo.

For further information, contact 086-3127783 and keep on eye on BORST’s Facebook and Twitter page.

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Sligo Rovers secured their Premier Division safety and in doing so also confirmed Bray Wanderers relegation, as the Bit O’Red recorded their third league win at the Showgrounds this season.

All the goals came in an action packed five-minute spell early in the second half.

Caolan McAleer fired Ger Lyttle’s men into the lead, three minutes before Jake Ellis levelled the tie. But Mikey Drennan was on hand to restore Sligo’s lead just 60 seconds later.

Sligo dominated large parts of this first half and should have hit the lead early on.

Drennan’s chested attempt in front of goal crept past Mark O’Connor’s far post just two minutes in, while Rhys McCabe’s headed effort from a similar distance suffered the same fate.

Bray, who haven’t won a single league away game this term, spent much of the opening period inside their own half.

Lee Lynch had O’Connor scrambling to push away his drive from distance on the quarter hour. While Caolan McAleer, John Mahon and Lynch again, each went close to breaking the deadlock.

Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty had to be alert to tip Ger Pender’s bending effort over his crossbar five minutes into the second half.

McAleer netted twice when these two sides met at the Carlisle Grounds earlier this year and the Tyrone man was at it again on 56 minutes. The winger nodding Lynch’s ball past O’Connor for his fourth of the year, heralding a crazy few minutes.

Gary Cronin’s side were behind for all of three minutes. Jake Ellis making the most of the space afforded to him as he slotted past McGinty.

Bray had barely gathered their thoughts when they found themselves behind again. O’Connor came to claim Lynch’s cross from the right but was beaten to the ball by Drennan whose looped header won it for Rovers.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Patrick McClean, Regan Donelon; David Cawley, Rhys McCabe; Caolan McAleer (Liam Kerrigan 81), Lee Lynch (Raff Cretaro 88), Lewis Morrison (Darren Collins 60); Mikey Drennan.

Bray Wanderers: Mark O’Connor; Conor Kenna, Darragh Gibbons, Cian Walsh, Kevin Lynch; Dylan Hayes (Dragos Mamaliga 8), Paul O’Conor, John Sullivan, Darragh Noone; Jake Ellis, Ger Pender (Byron O’Gorman 85).

Referee: John McLoughlin.