SLIGO’S CAPITAL PAINS
Rovers’ Dublin famine spells positive news for Pat’s
SLIGO’S two-and-a-half year search for capital gains drags on as Dean Clarke and Thomas Byrne fired St Pat’s to a third win on the spin.
Gerard Lyttle’s (inset) team are struggling to catch a break and oh what the manager would do for a little consistency.
Their away form is notably better than their home record but Dublin just ain’t their friend having failed to win here since beating the Saints at this ground in October 2015.
But while Barry Murphy made two superb saves to thwart Kyle Callan-mcfadden and Adam Wixted in the first-half, the hosts deserved the points.
That said, they were blessed when John Mahon applied a centre-back’s finish when somehow over from six yards with four minutes to play.
As it happens, Byrne slotted home an injury-time penalty to remove any late jitters.
Liam Buckley’s men will take great comfort from the fact they remain unbeaten on their own patch since the opening night defeat to champions Cork City.
And while they are capable of throwing in the odd bogey result, they are back playing with a swagger not seen by their fans in recent years.
What a difference a close season makes.
Reclaiming their customary ticket to Europe is the focus now and who would bet against them sneaking into the places?
The incentive is there anyway as they will leapfrog Derry City into fourth if they can inflict a second defeat of the week on the Candystripes this Friday.
Saints ought to have been ahead before Murphy’s key saves. Callan-mcfadden cleared off the line when Ryan Brennan and goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney contested a Simon Madden cross. But despite their shaky start, the Bit O’red hit back and were unfortunate not to snatch a lead before the break.
Callan-mcfadden was ready to celebrate before Murphy got a hand to his powerful header from Rhys Mccabe’s corner.
And Murphy made another superb save before the break to deny Wixted whose neat footblazing work bamboozled defenders.
But Rovers were made pay for failing to convert either chance as Clarke – injured soon after – put away Madden’s cross to the back post six minutes after the restart.
Killian Brennan then went close with an outrageous 35-yard volley from a Conan Byrne corner before Mahon squandered that late chance to equalise.
And just to rub salt in Bit O’red wounds, St Pat’s made sure of the points from the penalty spot.
Jack Keaney barged into Keegan and referee Rob Hennessey awarded the spot-kick which Byrne just about squeezed home under the considerable frame of on-loan Chelsea keeper Beeney.
It was the former Brighton youth’s first goal for the club on his first league start and a fitting reward after his performance.