Cawley sees red as improved Rovers earn a valued point
SLIGO ROVERS 0 ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 0
Sligo Rovers ended their run of four consecutive home defeats with a 0-0 draw with St. Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds on Saturday night.
The Bit o’Red also managed to keep their first clean sheet of the season, although they will feel as though it was two points dropped.
Totally dominant throughout the 90 minutes, it was a much improved performance from their last home game, in which they lost to Derry City.
Ger Lyttle made four changes to the side that was defeated 1-0 by Cork City at Turner’s Cross midweek.
An injury to captain Kyle Callan McFadden meant that John Mahon was handed his first league start with Seamus Sharkey also suffering injury.
Regan Donelon, Greg Moorhouse and Caolan McAleer dropped to the bench in place of Eduardo Pinceli, Raffaele Cretaro and Adam Morgan.
Liam Buckley made the one change, with Jake Keegan missing out in place of Christy Fagan.
The Saints came into this game having lost just one in their last four games, whereas the Bit o’Red had picked up defeats in three of their last four league games.
Eduardo Pinceli set the tone for the game with his excellent shot from distance with just four minutes on the clock, Barry Murphy was alert to it, though.
The game was late to kick off with the away supporters lighting a number of flares in the stand, before there was a change of referees.
John McLoughlin pulled up and following assessment from the St. Patrick’s Athletic physio, he was forced to come off and replaced by fourth official Damien McGraith.
The hosts took control of proceedings early on, with Liam Buckley’s side forced to shoot from distance for a large portion of the game.
James Doona offered the Saints their first opportunity of the game, dragging his effort wide of the mark.
While inflicting pressure on the Rovers rearguard, the Dubliners almost inflicted suffering on themselves as they were nearly undone on the counter-attack.
Calum Waters’ headed clearance fell into the path of club veteran Raff Cretaro.
The 36-year-old surged forward, and spotting the run of Adam Morgan, and played it into his feet.
The Liverpudlian could only direct his effort inches wide of Murphy’s post, however.
Rhys McCabe’s corner should have been nodded past Murphy by the unmarked Patrick McClean, but he could not keep his header down.
Rovers netminder Mitchell Beeney was forced to act as a by-stander for most of the second-half.
David Cawley’s outstanding cross from the right should have ended up in the back of the net with a touch from Cretaro, but the Sligo native failed to connect in time.
It was looking as though it was going to be one of those days for Ger Lyttle’s side when Morgan missed a sitter from three yards out.
With just seconds left on the clock, referee McGraith brandished a straight red for David Cawley following a challenge on Killian Brennan, much to the disgust of the Sligo Rovers bench and fans.
Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Gary Boylan, John Mahon, Patrick McClean, Calum Waters; Jack Keaney, Rhys McCabe (Caolan McAleer, 45), David Cawley, Raffaele Cretaro (Ally Roy, 93), Eduardo Pinceli (Adam Wixted, 78); Adam Morgan.
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Kevin Toner, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham; Dean Clarke, Ryan Brennan, Darragh Markey (Conan Byrne, 46), Jamie Lennon, James Doona (Killian Brennan, 81); Christy Fagan (Jake Keegan, 54).
Referee: John McLoughlin (Damien McGraith, 19)