League Report: St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 3 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers all but secured European football for next year after a 3-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park on Friday. First-half goals from Ryan De Vries and Johnny Kenny and an injury-time free-kick from Adam McDonnell were enough for Liam Buckley’s side to take the points.

After an even opening 10 minutes which saw both sides exchange periods of possession, the home team, who were without head coach Stephen O’Donnell through illness, found themselves behind with a goal that was all their own doing.

Jamie Lennon gave the ball away in midfield passing it straight to De Vries. The forward capitalised on the error and curled a right-footed shot past Vitezslav Jaros in the St Pats goal.

The Saints nearly hit back straight away, Lee Desmond saw his glancing header tipped over the bar by Ed McGinty from a corner.

Lennon then went close on the 25th minute, John Mahon had cleared a cross from Pats left and the Ireland Under-21 international shot just over from the edge of the box.

On the next attack, Darragh Burns cut inside onto his favoured left but his attempt was saved by McGinty. There was a real sense of excitement in the stands anytime the 19-year-old got the ball.

On the 40th minute mark, Garry Buckley miss judged a clearance but Ian Bermingham’s shot was saved. The resulting corner was cleared to Johnny Kenny, he then outpaced Jak Hickman but none of his teammates were in the box to capitalize on his cutback.

Two minutes later the teenager, who just this week signed a three-year-deal had his goal. Mark

Byrne crossed from the right, Kenny’s first attempt was cleared but only as far as the oncoming Robbie McCourt who sent the ball back in from the left, Kenny’s initial header was saved but he showed striker’s instincts to swiftly put away the rebound. A 10th goal of the season to send the Bit O’Red two up at half-time.

Pats manager Alan Matthews, clearly unhappy with his side’s performance, made a double change at half-time with Matt Smith and Billy King coming on for Ronan Coughlan and Alfie Lewis.

Pats turned the screw but were always susceptible to Sligo’s pace on the counter-attack. Kenny an ever-willing runner in behind.

The home side had arguably their best chance just on the hour mark. Forrester found himself free five-yards out after a deep cross from Burns but completely missed the ball.

Sligo again though looked dangerous on the break, Andre Wright combined with Mark Byrne and the latter’s dangerous shot across goal was parried by Liverpool loanee Jaros.

Just after the 70th minute Lee Desmond stepped forward and played in Bermingham, the captain floated a ball across but subsitute Nahun Melvin Lambert’s header missed the target.

The left-wing was proving fruitful for the Inchicore side, Matty Smith beat his man before crossing to Robbie Benson but the ex-Dundalk midfielder put his effort narrowly wide.

The more Pats pressed on the more Sligo looked to punish them on the break. Andre Wright should have made it three, Romeo Parkes played the ex-Bohemians man through on goal. The Pats defence demanded an offside flag but it never came however Wright’s shot was tame in the end.

Pats continued to create chances of their own and on the 84th minute the ball broke to Benson on the edge of the box. He hit a powerful shot but it blazed over.

In injury time, Saints captain Ian Bermingham was booked for a tough tackle near the corner flag. Adam McDonnell floated in the resulting free-kick which deceived everyone and went straight in the net.

Sligo will now be looking to nick second spot from St Pats who need one point from their remaining two games to guarantee runners up spot.

St Patricks Athletic: Vitezslav Jaros (GK) ; Ian Bermingham ©, Lee Desmond, Paddy Barrett (Jason McClelland) Jak Hickman (Sam Bone); Jamie Lennon (Nahum Melvin Lambert), Chris Forrester, Alfie Lewis (Billy King), Robbie Benson, Darragh Burns; Ronan Coughlan (Matty Smith)

Subs not used: Josh Keeley (GK), Shane Griffin, James Abankwah,, Kyrian Nwoko,

Booked: Ian Bermingham

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Lewis Banks, Robert McCourt, John Mahon, Garry Buckley; Greg Bolger © (Niall Morahan) Adam Mcdonnell, Mark Byrne (Colm Horgan); Johnny Kenny (Romeo Parkes), Andre Wright, Ryan De Vries (Walter Figueira)

Subs not used: Richard Brush (GK), Shane Blaney, Seamus Keogh, Darren Collins, Melvyn Lorenzen

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 2000 (est)

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Johnny Kenny