Soccer
Pat’s face Sligo in quest for top three
ST PATRICK’S Athletic will look to keep their quest for a top-three finish in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division alive when they face Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm) reports Daire Walsh.
Currently two points adrift of Dundalk in fourth spot, the Saints will more than likely require a maximum return from the final two games of the current campaign to automatically guarantee themselves a UEFA Europa Conference League qualification place for 2023. Following their showdown with Sligo, Tim Clancy’s men will round off the season with a home encounter against Shelbourne on November 6.
By then, Shels (managed by Ballyboden native Damien Duff) might well have one eye on their impending FAI Cup final date with Derry City at the Aviva Stadium. Given they are already assured of finishing in the European positions, a win for Derry in this game would see the fourth-place team in the Premier Division gaining the extra Conference League spot.
Pat’s will want to eliminate all doubt before that Aviva showpiece, of course, and that is what makes their latest trip to the north-west so crucial.
Despite making a superb start to their clash in Tallaght last Friday, the Saints ultimately succumbed to a 4-1 reversal at the hands of champions Shamrock Rovers. Serge Atakayi had given Pat’s the lead with a fourth-minute goal, before Graham Burke and Daniel Cleary struck back in the latter stages of the half.
Sean Hoare came back to haunt his former club with a third Hoops goal on the resumption, in advance of a second from Burke ensuring that Pat’s returned to Inchicore empty-handed. Clancy will be looking for an immediate response from his troops, but their results thus far this year against Sligo have been decidedly mixed.
At Richmond Park on February 25, another ex-Saints star – Aidan Keena – was amongst the goals as the Bit O’Red came away with a 2-1 away success. Keena and Darragh Burns found the net at opposite ends in a 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds on May 14, before Pat’s finally recorded a win over the Connacht men courtesy of an Atakayi goal at Inchicore in mid-August.
Before coming up short against Shamrock Rovers, the Saints had recorded back-to-back triumphs over Dundalk and Bohemians. They will be hoping to rediscover this impressive form against John Russell’s charges in their penultimate game of the season.