St Patrick’s Athletic 3 – 0 Sligo Rovers

A Luke Turner double and along with a late goal from Mason Melia saw Sligo Rovers beaten for the first time in five games as St Patrick’s Athletic got the better of the Bit O’Red at Richmond Park.

The defeat was compounded by the loss of both Nando Pijnaker and Ed McGinty to injury following a nasty collision between the pair in the second period. Pijnaker was stretchered off to be assessed for a chest injury, while McGinty did manage to play on for a short time but was subsequently substituted with a neck issue.

Manager John Russell made one change, albeit enforced, from the win over Waterford just three days earlier. Will Fitzgerald deputising out wide for the suspended Simon Power.

Pat’s Joe Redmond went close early on but was well marshalled by the Rovers defence, but the Dubliners did find their opener on ten minutes.

Conor Neely heading Jake Mulraney’s corner back for Turner who fired home for the opener. 
Undeterred, Sligo forced saves from Danny Rogers in the Pat’s goal. Both Conor Malley and Ellis Chapman producing efforts as Rovers sought to bring the game back level.

McGinty went full stretch to push Alex Nolan’s angled effort on to his post, before the goalkeeper did enough to put off Ruairi Keating in a one-on-one situation close to the half hour.

Keating’s chance coming after the Inchicore men had doubled the lead on 43 minutes when Turner forced Brandon Kavanagh’s corner past McGinty at the far post. 

Rovers were forced into a defensive switch on 72 when Pijnaker and McGinty crashed into each other as they both bravely came for the same ball.

Fabrice Hartmann almost halved the lead with twelve to go but his placed shot was well held by Rogers. Pat’s then putting the game to bed on 80 minutes, Melia with the Dubliner’s third. 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers; Luke Turner, Joe Redmond, Conor Keeley, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon, Aaron Bolger (Jay McClelland 90), Alex Nolan (Mason Melia 77); Kian Leavy (Chris Forrester 77), Ruairi Keating (Cian Kavanagh 90), Jake Mulraney (Brandon Kavanagh 29).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty (Richard Brush 82); Charlie Wiggett (Wilson Waweru 46), Oliver Denham, Nando Pijnaker (Conor Reynolds 72), Reece Hutchinson; Conor Malley, Niall Morahan; Fabrice Hartmann (Stefan Radosavljevic 82), Ellis Chapman, Will Fitzgerald; Max Mata (Smit 60).