Sligo Rovers 2
St Patrick’s Athletic 2
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC missed their opportunity to go top of the table, as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.
Former Saint John Russell gave Sligo the lead in the first-half, before Ian Bermingham equalised for Pats. Conan Byrne netted a penalty to put Liam Buckley’s men ahead, but Danny North also netted from the spot to level matters.
Rovers showed their intent from the off-set and could have gone ahead after just three minutes, when Jeff Henderson forced his way through the St Pat’s defence and found Aaron Greene on the left. His low effort was palmed away by Brendan Clarke. Just minutes later, Conan Byrne’s cross from the right, which was intended for Christy Fagan, was just knocked over by Evan McMillan.
The hosts made their possession count on 20 minutes, though, as Russell finished off an excellent move involving Greene, Alan Keane and Daniel Ledwith by netting past Clarke to put the Bit o’Red ahead.
Both sides struggled to create clear cut chances, and the Saints let their frustration get the better of them, with James Chambers and Byrne picking up bookings just before half-time.
The visitors quickly pulled themselves back to level terms on the 52nd minute. Chris Forrester’s ball was met by Bermingham, who found his way into the box and struck it hard past Rogers to make it one apiece. It could have been 2-1 to Pat’s just minutes later when Byrne’s ball from the right was just out of reach for the onrushing Fagan.
Sligo Rovers should have taken the lead once again through Paul O’Conor as he met a North cross, but he failed to keep it down and saw his effort go well over Clarke’s bar. Saints were probably the better side in the second-half, and were given a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty as Seamus Conneely was ajudged to have fouled Bermingham in the box. Byrne stepped up and sent Rogers the wrong way to make it 2-1.
The drama did not end there, though, as Sligo were also given a penalty on 83 minutes, when Ger O’Brien took down O’Conor in the Sligo box. North blasted past Clarke to make it 2-2.
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SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Keane (North, 67), Henderson, McMillan, Gaynor, Djilali (Conneely, 54), Russell, O’Conor, Cawley, Ledwith (Odhiambo, 88) Greene. Substitutes: Brush, Spillane, Dykes, Maguire.
ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke, O’Brien, Hoare, Browne, Bermingham, Byrne, Fahey, Lynch, Chambers (Bolger, 88), Forrester, Fagan (Kavanagh, 73). Substitutes: Jennings, McCormack, Brennan, Verdon, Fitzgerald.
Referee: Tomas Connolly