Saints receive set-back in title challenge with defeat to Sligo

Daire Walsh

St Patrick’s Athletic suffered a significant dent to their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title aspirations when losing 2-0 to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds last night.

Following goals from Johnny Kenny and Ryan DeVries, it was the north-west outfit – managed by former St Pat’s player and manager Liam Buckley – who came away with all three points.

This was the Saints’ seventh defeat in 27 league games this year and leaves them with little room for manoeuvre in the quest for top-flight supremacy.

With Shamrock Rovers securing a 2-0 triumph over Waterford in Tallaght, Pat’s are now three points adrift of their Dublin rivals – despite having two more games played.

There could yet be some twists and turns in the coming weeks, but there is no doubt that this result comes as a set-back for the Saints.

Fresh from an accomplished win at home to Longford Town seven days earlier, Stephen O’Donnell’s charges were in high spirits for their latest journey on the road.

However, it was a nightmare start to the contest for the visitors, with Sligo being awarded a penalty with just under three minutes gone on the clock.

Kenny stepped up to the mark and fired past opposition netminder Vítězslav Jaroš in clinical style.Pat’s did their level best to respond to this hammer blow as Matty Smith, Alfie Lewis and Ronan Coughlan all went close to finding the net.

Yet it was Sligo who were the more ruthless side in attack and courtesy of an excellent DeVries strike, Buckley’s men brought a commanding two-goal cushion into the interval.

This left the Saints with a mountain to climb on the resumption and while there was no lack of endeavour on their part, the Sligo defence was proving difficult to break down.

Darragh Burns fired over on the stroke of 70 minutes after slipping at an inopportune moment, but despite keeping their opponents on the back-foot for large spells, Pat’s couldn’t work their way back into contention.

Much of the post-match discussion for this tie was centred around a melee that took place as both teams were entering the dressing rooms upon full-time. Once the dust settles on this incident, the Saints will switch their focus to next Friday’s FAI Cup quarter-final against Wexford.