St Patrick's Athletic (2) - Sligo Rovers (1)

St Patrick's Athletic 2 - Sligo Rovers 1

In a week that began in abject defeat to Derry City at the same venue, St Patrick's produced one of their best displays of the campaign back at Richmond Park to mark the news on Thursday that they look to have a back-door entry into the Europa League this summer.

It was an unhappy return to Inchicore for Liam Buckley as his Sligo side were totally outplayed in the first half by his former club as goals from Chris Forrester and Mikey Drennan laid the foundation for this deserved SSE Airtricity League Premier Divison victory for the hosts.

That said, it was Buckley's Rovers who were first to threaten with a swerving drive from Ronan Coughlan working a comfortable save from Brendan Clarke six minutes in.

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.

Further sloppy defending cost Sligo a second goal on 24 minutes.

Drennan again got away, this time onto a ball down the inside left channel, cut past Mahon only for the young defender to clumsily bring him down inside the area.

Calmness personified from the spot, Drennan sent Beeney the wrong way from 12 yards for his fourth goal of the season.

With St Pat's totally dominant, Beeney needed to make a smart 38th minute save to prevent his side falling further in arrears.

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.

By then, Harry Kenny's side had done more than enough to earn the three points.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 2 - Sligo Rovers 1

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