Latest news with #AidanKeena
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Aidan Keena penalty sinks Sligo Rovers as St Patrick's Athletic snatch narrow win
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 2 Aidan Keena of St Patrick's Athletic scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the LOI win 2 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. read more on football 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. Most read in Football 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. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict 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.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keena on the spot for Saints in Sligo
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1 (Aidan Keena pen 10) St Patrick's Athletic revived their stuttering campaign with a scrappy 1-0 win over bottom of the table Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds. Ex-Sligo striker Aidan Keena's 10th minute penalty was the difference for an underwhelming St Pat's who moved up one place in the table, while this was a 12th loss in 18 games for struggling Sligo. St Pat's, fifth in the standings coming into this game and with just one win from their last five games, made five changes to their starting team. Among their absentees were Chris Forrester and teenage sensation Mason Melia. They fielded two ex-Sligo players for this north-west assignment, Simon Power and Aidan Keena. Sligo welcomed back midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes and were again looking to their season's breakout star, Owen Elding, who has netted seven goals so far. St Pat's made the early running - a fizzing shot from Jason McClelland was tipped over by Sam Sargeant - and they hit the front in the 10th minute via Aidan Keena's converted penalty. The spot-kick was awarded following a foul on Simon Power, who was a busy presence for the visitors. But St Pat's didn't create anything else of note for the remainder of the first period aside from a weak shot on target from goalscorer Aidan Keena. Sligo, who were a threat when full-back Reece Hutchinson got on the ball on the left flank, only had one chance of note in that first-half - an off target header from Cian Kavanagh, who got on the end of a Jake Doyle-Hayes free-kick delivery. The woodwork denied Sligo an equaliser in the 52nd minute. Enterprise from teenage full-back led to a curling shot from Ronan Manning that came off the crossbar via a touch from St Pat's defender Joe Redmond. Simon Power then directed a shot just wide of the far post as St Pat's, although under increased pressure from an improved Sligo, remained a threat on the counter. Sligo had a chance to rescue a point in the fifth minute of stoppage time but Francely Lomboto's shot was straight at St Pat's goalkeeper Joseph Anang. Sligo Rovers: Sergeant; Reynolds (McDonagh 65), Mahon, McElroy, Hutchinson; Wolfe (Hakiki 65), Doyle-Hayes; Elding, Manning (Lomboto 78), Fitzgerald; Kavanagh (Waweru 46) St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; McLaughlin, Redmond, Hoare (Grivosti 44), Breslin; Power, Lennon, McClelland, Elbouzedi; Leavy (Turner 90+5), Keena (Carty 86) Referee: Neil Doyle Attendance: 2,356
RTÉ News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: St Pat's attempt to defend top spot in tough Derry City clash
The big games keep coming in the Premier Division as a Bank Holiday schedule of five matches sees St Patrick's Athletic attempt to defend top spot as they travel to Derry, while there is a meeting of the two Rovers in Tallaght Stadium. The Saints were efficient in seeing off Galway United last Friday as they withheld pressure from the visitors to Richmond Park to secure a 2-0 win. Aidan Keena made a surprise and welcome return to their line-up and is sure to provide a major boost to Stephen Kenny in the coming matches. Derry City left behind their disappoint in Waterford to dominate against Shelbourne in something of a statement win. The Candystripes could go top tonight if results go there way, a remarkable situation given their early season struggles. Shamrock Rovers continue to struggle to finish off games after leaving points behind in Cork. Having lost leads to Bohemians and Shelbourne beforehand, conceding to a weakened Cork City was a real surprise last Friday. Stephen Bradley bemoaned the situation, without putting all of the blame on his players and leaving some to misfortune. He said ahead of tonight's clash with Sligo "We're not doing a lot wrong to be honest. Small margins are going against us at the moment. But that's football, sometimes that happens. Sometimes over the course of a season things like this happen. "I said last week, and the week before, and again it was the same after the Cork game, we need to take our chances and then it's a different game. As I said, a lot of what we're doing is really good and just those small margins are going against us at the moment." The Bit O' Red rallied from two goals down to claim a point against Drogheda United to maintain their excellent return in front of goals. Defence has been the weak point for Sligo, so Bradley is keen to make sure the Hoops are aware of their strengths. "We've seen the last few weeks they've been scoring goals. They have good attacking players and like in any game in this league, if you're not right, or at it 100%, then you'll get punished. So we need to make sure we're again focussed and give Sligo the respect they deserve." Josh Honohan is a doubt after going off injured in Turner's Cross. Aaron McEneff, Danny Mandroiu, Dan Cleary, Dylan Watts and Gary O'Neill look set to miss out. Sligo have had just two wins all year, but one of those did come against the Dublin Rovers. It would be a major shock if they repeated it on the road, however. Sligo boss John Russell is remaining optimistic: "Every ground you visit in this league is a tough place to go to. "There simply just aren't any games that aren't tough and Monday will be the same. Our record up there isn't great but we're using that as motivation to go and give a good account of ourselves. "We've been the architects of our own downfall at times this season and have given other teams headstarts. We've been so impressive going forward, creating chances and scoring goals and I'm really happy with that. But what's been killing us is the concession of silly goals. "If you make it easy for the opposition somewhere like Tallaght, then chances are you're not coming back from it so we need to be on our game from the start." Oscar Van Hattum and Ollie Denham sit out with injury. A familiar face to the Bit O' Red will be in Dublin but on the opposite side of the city as John Coleman watches his new team Waterford FC take on Shelbourne. Coleman was appointed manager of the weekend and comes in with the job slightly easier after his new club beat Bohemians the previous day. James Olayinka and Tommy Lonergan were on target. While Waterford had to ride their luck at times, they did enough to come away with maximum points and move clear of the bottom two. Rowan McDonald, Trae Coyle, Andy Boyle and Matty Smith remain on the injury list. Interim boss Matt Lawlor completes his task tonight before handing over to Coleman after full-time. Lawlor said: "We look forward to seeing all our supporters at Tolka Park in Tolka Park tomorrow, in what is an exciting game against the champions. It will prove another tough game for us, but we are ready and wanting to carry on our good form." Shels face a test of character having fallen out of the bottom half with their defeat in Derry, albeit still being just three points off the summit. Bohemians will hope their setback against Waterford does not linger ahead of the trip to take on Galway United. Both sides were beaten on Friday as they look to respond. Gypsies boss Alan Reynolds said: "Galway have only lost three games this season and have proven that they are one of the hardest teams to beat in the league so we are going there knowing we really have to up our game. "They lost 2-0 to a really good St Pat's team on Friday but the scoreline didn't reflect Galway's performance. They're big and powerful and they've shown already how they can hurt us if you give them an inch, so every man taking the pitch knows they have a job to do." Bohs are without Leigh Kavanagh (hamstring), Connor Parsons (hamstring) and Alex Lacey (hamstring) The final game of the night sees Drogheda United face Cork City at Sullivan and Lambe Park. Kevin Doherty was left hugely frustrated by dropping two points in Sligo. City secured another encouraging point against Shamrock Rovers and go in search of a first away success of the year.
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Derry City 'harshly done by' in St Pat's loss
Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch thought refeering decisions "completely changed the outcome" of his side's loss to St Patrick's Athletic on Monday visitors to Richmond Park were beaten 2-0 as Aidan Keena converted a penalty in each half and also were recduced to 10 men less than a minute into the second half when Carl Winchester was dismissed for a tackle on Mason Melia. "It's better that I don't elaborate on the red card or the two penalty decisions," said Lynch."I thought that we were very harshly done by."I thought decisions in the game that went against us completely changed the outcome."Derry made headlines in the off-season with the signings of Northern Ireland internationals Liam Boyce, Gavin Whyte, Shane Ferguson and the Candystripes have taken just three points from their first four games this season and sit second from bottom in the League of Ireland Premier Division. 'There's too many quality players in that changing room' Lynch, who replaced Ruaidhri Higgins as Derry City boss in November, endured a similarly slow start to his reign at Larne before going on to win back-to-back Irish Premiership and leading the Inver Reds to the league phase of the Uefa Conference League."I've been here before. I'm big enough and ugly enough to work my through this. "I think there's too many quality players in that changing room. It can't last."The former Glentoran assistant added, however, that nobody at the club was "shying away" from their poor start."At Derry City, every game you have to win, that's how I look at it."Regardless of how you play, decisions that go against you, that's not good enough."We're fully aware, we're not shying away, we face things head on."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ten-man Derry pay the penalty against St Pat's
A penalty in each half from Aidan Keena handed 10-man Derry City their second defeat in four days as they lost 2-0 to St Patrick's Athletic in Richmond Park. In between Keena's pair of spot-kicks, City's Carl Winchester was shown a straight red card for a strong challenge on Tottenham Hotspur-bound teenager Mason Melia. Three points from their first four League of Ireland Premier Division games under new boss Tiernan Lynch leaves Derry second from bottom heading into Friday's fixture at home to Galway United. The Foylesiders travelled to Inchicore having lost four of their past five matches away from home. St. Pat's, managed by former Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, came into the season as title favourites and picked up their first win of the campaign last Friday overcoming Sligo in a 4-3 thriller in Richmond Park. While Derry did control the ball it was the home side who looked the most threatening and when Melia was upended in the City box referee Gavin Colfer had a think before pointing to the spot and providing Saints with the chance to open the scoring. Keena made no mistake firing past Maher into the bottom left-hand corner. The Candystripes reacted admirably to going a goal behind and were well in the contest going in at the break just 1-0 down. But Winchester's contentious sending off changed the complexion of the game. Pat's failed to create many clear-cut chances against the 10 men but when Keena was tripped inside the box the striker quickly dusted himself down and blasted the same way to the net from the spot for his fifth goal of the season to consign City to a third defeat in four games.
