St Pat’s take the points

SLIGO ROVERS 1

ST. PATRICK’S ATH 2

GOALKEEPER Brendan Clarke scored the winner for St. Patrick’s Athletic as they inflicted yet another defeat on Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.

Jake Keegan gave the Saints the lead in the first-half before Mikey Drennan equalised. Clarke took responsibility for the second-half penalty awarded to his side, and he slotted past Mitchell Beeney to give his side all three points.

Rovers came into this game just four points behind Derry City, knowing that a win could bring them within touching distance of the Candystripes.

Ger Lyttle had to make do without captain Rhys McCabe who was serving a one game suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

The Bit O’Red were desperate to build a run of form having beaten champions Cork City at Turners Cross before defeating Livingston Colts at home in the Irn Bru Cup.

But they didn’t get off to the best of starts on Saturday evening as they went behind after the half hour mark.

Lee Desmond burst forward before crossing for the onrushing Keegan whose glorious volley curled in past Beeney for 1-0.

That goal sparked the home side into life, but it could well have been 2-0 when his effort from long distance trickled just wide.

Regan Donelon’s corner was glanced wide by Patrick McClean, before Rovers were back in it.

Donelon’s next corner was just tapped on to the crossbar by McClean, but it fell nicely for Drennan who slotted past Clarke to make it 1-1 on 40 minutes.

Dean Clarke’s shot from close range was saved by Beeney, before former Rovers man Achille Campion headed over.

Liam Buckley’s side were then awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Simon Madden was adjudged to have been tripped in the box.

In bizarre scenes, goalkeeper Brendan Clarke sprinted from his own box to take the penalty, much to the dismay of Campion who had initially expected to take the penalty.

Nonetheless, Clarke stepped up and his penalty straight down the middle beat Beeney to give Pats the lead once again.

Keegan, Dean Clarke and Jamie Lennon all tried their luck to make it 3-1, but Beeney was alert to all shots.

That defeat is Rovers’ 10th at home all year, where they have picked up just nine points out of a possible 45, compared with eight victories on the road, picking up 26 points out of a possible 48.

Next up for the Bit O’Red is a trip to Waterford on Friday evening.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Seamus Sharkey, John Mahon, Patrick McClean, Regan Donelon; David Cawley (Lewis Morrison, 76), Jack Keaney; Kris Twardek (Caolan McAleer, 68), Lee Lynch, Adam Wixted (Raffaele Cretaro, 62); Mikey Drennan.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Simon Madden, Michael Barker, Michael Leahy, Lee Desmond; Dean Clarke; Ryan Brennan, Jamie Lennon, Darragh Markey; Achille Campion, Jake Keegan.

Referee: Rob Rogers

Pictured is the under-11 team from Erne Wanderers, Ballyshannon, who travelled to The Showgrounds to play a team from St Edward’s NS, Clarion Road, adjacent to the Forthilll area, long regarded as the spiritual home of Sligo soccer as part of the celebrations marking the club’s 90th anniversary. The game between the young teams is being organized by the members of the Sligo Rovers Heritage Group and Sligo Rovers. Rovers were drawn to play Ballyshannon Ernes in Ballyshannon on September 23rd in their first ever competitive fixture and thus the journey to senior soccer began. Pic: Carl Brennan.

Mikey Drennan celebrates his equaliser with team-mates Patrick McClean and Seamus Sharkey. Pic: Carl Brennan.