St Patrick’s Athletic scored a late, late injury time winner as Sligo Rovers’ Premier Division winning run came to an end at Richmond Park in controversial circumstances. 

A stunning, long range strike from Connor Malley had Rovers in the lead on 22 minutes, before former Red Aidan Keena levelled the game from the penalty spot four minutes later, after the Saints were awarded a dubious spot-kick. 

Rovers went ahead again shortly after the break when Ellis Chapman nodded Will Fitzgerald’s cross past Pat’s net minder Joseph Anang.Brandon Kavanagh restored parity on 65 minutes with a strike from distance. 

Both sides struck the other’s woodwork in the lead up to a dramatic finish. 

The Bit O’Red looked like they would take a well earned point from Dublin, before referee Rob Hennessy decided he had spotted an infringement between Chapman and Pat’s Luke Turner who seemed to throw himself to the floor inside Ed McGinty’s penalty area.

Kavanagh slotted home from the spot in the ninth of five added minutes, to see Rovers beaten for the first time in five games in all competitions.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Axel Sjoberg, Joe Redmond, Luke Turner, Al-Amin Kazeem (Anto Breslin 60); Chris Forrester (Mason Melia 67), Jamie Lennon; Kian Leavy, Romal Palmer (Brandon Kavanagh 60), Jake Mulraney (Aaron Bolger 77); Aidan Keena (Zack Elbousedi 67).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; John Ross Wilson, Oliver Denham, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (Jack Henry-Francis 86); Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 86), Ellis Chapman, Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow 90+7), Will Fitzgerald; Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 77).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.