Defeat to 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic dampens the momentum after the home heroics against Viking VK
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division St Patrick’s Athletic Sligo Rovers 1 0
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TILL enthused by their exploits in Europe, this domestic defeat for Sligo Rovers could prove detrimental in terms of them qualifying for next season’s UEFA competition. Rovers, without leading scorer Aidan Keena, were undone by St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park last Sunday evening, sunk by the game’s only goal – a 31st minute finish from Serge Atakayi, who punished a defensive error.
This wasn’t a poor display from Rovers but the outcome could prove costly in the race to secure a top four berth.
The home side’s breakthrough was galling because it was due to a mistake on Rovers part rather than anything special from goalscorer Atakayi. Ex-Rovers player Eoin Doyle threaded a through ball that either Shane Blaney or goalkeeper Luke McNicholas should have been able to deal with.
Defender Blaney, who has been in excellent form of late, got to it but actually diverted it away from the advancing McNicholas. Following this miscommunication the ball broke kindly for an alert Atakayi, who had a simple conversion for his second St Pat’s goal.
Going a goal down was bad enough, failing to exploit a second-half numerical advantage was even worse.
A 64th minute red card for St Pat’s attacker Mark Doyle, rightly shown red for a horrible challenge on Paddy Kirk, was supposed to give Rovers’ added impetus for the last half hour or so.
But they were unable to turn a series of chances into at least an equaliser, a injuries.
Top scorer Keena missed the UEFA Europa Conference League fixture against Viking FK the previous Thursday, as did Buckley, Horgan and Keogh. New signing Cameron Evans, a 21-year-old centre-back, was on the bench.
There was one change made to the starting XI that featured in Rovers’ final European game of 2022 – Niall Morahan was selected in midfield ahead of Greg Bolger.
The hosts also made their exit from the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round three days before – a 2-1 aggregate loss to CKSA Sofia followng a 2-0 reversal at Richmond Park. Those European exertions played their part for both teams, with neither side at full pelt. St Pat’s, with Chris Forrester pulling the strings in midfield, and Serge Atakayi a menace up front, had their spells of possession.
Rovers, who might have scored inside the opening minute with a chance for busy winger Will Fitzgerald, later threatened in the first-half through shots by Adam McDonnell and Max Mata.
Best for Rovers: Adam McDonnell
St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers; Barry Cotter, Harry Brockbank (Jamie Lennon
68), Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Anto Breslin; Chris Forrester, Adam O’Reilly; Mark Doyle, Eoin Doyle (Ronan Coughlan 81), Serge Atakayi (Tunde Owolabi 87)
Subs not used: Sean Molloy (gk), Sam Curtis, Thijs Timmermans, Ben McCormack, Jason McClelland, Billy King
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Lewis Banks, Nando Pijnaker, Shane Blaney, Paddy Kirk; Niall Morahan (Kailin Barlow 78), Robbie Burton (Greg Bolger 66);
Frank Liivak (Karl O’Sullivan 66), Adam McDonnell (Cillian Heaney 89), Will Fitzgerald; Max Mata
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Cameron Evans, Mark Byrne, Eanna Clancy Referee: Ben Connolly