Sligo R 1 St Patrick's A 1:SEAN O'CONNOR saved St Patrick's Athletic's blushes with a 71st-minute equaliser in a gripping game at the Showgrounds last night. O'Connor, who was sprung from the bench after 58 minutes, made no mistake when it looked as if the home side might send the visitors to their first defeat.
Sligo went ahead in the 18th minute when Joseph Ndo’s corner kick unluckily ended up in the visitors’ net after keeper Brendan Clarke’s attempted clearance rebounded into the net off the head of defender Kenny Browne.
St Pat’s had a great chance to take all three points on the stroke of full-time but Christy Fagan’s penalty effort went over the bar.
Chris Forrester forced Gary Rogers into a smart save on 78 minutes as the visitors went in search of a winner.
St Pat’s controlled the play in the opening minutes of the first half as the home side struggled.
Jason McGuinness was unable to turn quickly enough to set up a scoring chance from Ross Gaynor’s well-directed corner kick after nine minutes. Former Sligo player John Russell went close for the visitors after a swift St Pat’s counter attack a minute later.
Fagan also forced Rogers into a save in the 26th minute.
A clever flick on by Greg Bolger found Forrester on the half hour mark but Rovers survived as Forrester shot wide from close range.
St Pat’s stepped up the pace in the closing minutes of the half with Ian Birmingham and Russell both going close.
Both managers will perhaps be happy enough with the draw which preserves their side’s unbeaten league records.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Davoren, Peers, Ventre, Boco, Quigley, Gaynor (Cretaro 86), Ndo (Cawley 28), Lynch (Dillon 86), McGuinness, North.
ST PATRICK’S ATH: Clarke, O’Brien, Browne, Kenna, Birmingham, Chambers (O’Connor 58), Russell, Bolger, Forrester, Fagan, J Kelly (D Kelly half-time).
Referee Alan Kelly.
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