David Goulden at the Showgrounds
Former Rovers striker Aidan Keena’s tenth minute penalty was enough for St Patrick’s Athletic to come away from Sligo with a narrow win as Rovers were beaten by the Saints.
Keena’s spot-kick was converted after another ex-Rovers man Simon Power went to ground under a Jake Doyle-Hayes challenge and despite creating chances to level the tie, Rovers couldn’t muster that elusive leveller.
Stephen Kenny’s side might have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one. Although Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point, but the Galway man could only fire straight at Pat’s net minder Joseph Anang.
The Saints haven’t met expectations recently with just one win in the last five for one of the pre-season title favourites. Boss Kenny made no less than five changes in a hope to shift fortunes. Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin and former Sligo duo Keena and Power were reinstated to the starting team.
While Rovers made two changes from last week’s narrow loss to Shels. Doyle-Hayes and Ronan Manning returned to John Russell’s midfield, as the home side sought just a second victory on home soil this year.
As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on. McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Power, another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area.
The hosts struggled to find a way through a packed Pat’s centre and had their only chance of the half on twenty minutes. Cian Kavangh, who spent 2024 with Pat’s, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang’s goal.
The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval.
Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant’s far post close to the hour. While Manning’s shot after trojan work from Rovers’ teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang’s post by Joe Redmond.
Pat’s were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 but couldn’t stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi’s cross with an open goal on offer.
Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto was denied by a smart stop from Anang after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of goal.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 66), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Jad Hakiki 66); Will Fitzgerald, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 78), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru 45).
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joe Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare (Tom Grivosti 44), Anto Breslin; Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon; Simon Power, Kian Leavy (Luke Turner 96), Zach Elbouzedi; Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 86).
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Attendance: 2,356.