Aidan Keena penalty sinks Sligo Rovers as St Patrick's Athletic snatch narrow win

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

Sligo Rovers will spend the summer break bottom of the Premier Division table.
That's after a tenth minute penalty from their former striker Aidan Keena saw
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Aidan Keena of St Patrick's Athletic scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the LOI win
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St Patrick's Athletic and Stephen Kenny earned a hard fought win over Sligo
Stephen Kenny's side should have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one.
Although Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point, however the Galway man could only fire straight at Pat's net minder Joseph Anang.
As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on.
Jay McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Simon Power.
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He's another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Jake Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area.
Cian Kavanagh, who spent 2024 with Pat's, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang's goal.
The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval.
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Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant's far post close to the hour.
While Ronan Manning's shot after trojan work from Rovers' teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang's post by Joe Redmond.
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Pat's were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 but couldn't stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi's cross with an open goal on offer.
Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto fluffed an opportunity in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the contest after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of Anang.
Sligo Rovers 0 - 1 St. Patrick's Athletic
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant 6; Conor Reynolds 7 (Kyle McDonagh 66) 6, John Mahon 6, Gareth McElroy 6, Reece Hutchinson 5; Jake Doyle-Hayes 6, Matty Wolfe 6 (Jad Hakiki 66) 6; Will Fitzgerald 5, Ronan Manning 6 (Francely Lomboto 78) 6, Owen Elding 6; Cian Kavanagh 5 (Wilson Waweru 45) 7.
St Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang 6; Ryan McLaughlin 6, Joe Redmond 6, Sean Hoare 6 (Tom Grivosti 44) 6, Anto Breslin 6; Jay McClelland 7, Jamie Lennon 6; Simon Power 6, Kian Leavy 7 (Luke Turner 96) 6, Zach Elbouzedi 6; Aidan Keena 6 (Conor Carty 86) 6.
Referee: Neil Doyle 6.
Star man: McClelland (Pat's)
Attendance: 2,356.