2 v 0 
Sligo RoversDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 June 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Saints Sail Past Sligo in Richmond Park
St Patrick’s Athletic emerged tonight as 2-0 winners at home to Sligo Rovers in Richmond Park; amid cheers and jeers of 200 spectators.
Matty Smith’s strike in the seven minute was the only goal of the first half as the Saints pressed the Bit O’Red and denied them the opportunity to create any rhythm.
Sligo improved after the break but against the run of play Pat’s then doubled their lead 72 minutes in via a Ronan Coughlan penalty.
This was a massive win for the Stephen O’Donnell's men as they shuffle the pecking order at the top of the table and move into second place.
Donning their away kit, the home side suffocated every sniff of a Sligo attacking chance from the off with Greg Bolger and Romeo Parkes struggling to gain any momentum.
Robbie Benson and Ronan Coughlan frequently amalgamated a string of passes together to launch Pat’s into the opposition’s box, with Paddy Barrett steadying the ship at the back and acquiring a yellow card for his infringements.
John Mountney posed many a threat from the corner flag, as did Billy King who had it not been for a wonder-save from Ed McGinty would have been on the scoresheet around the half hour mark.
A major blow inflicted on Sligo before the opening 45 minutes had elapsed was Robbie McCourt’s forced substitution due to a suspected arm injury, Regan Donelon coming in to replace him.
Niall Morahan came more and more into the game as he tried ignite things for Sligo in the second half, in conjunction with David Cawley who was subbed in to Walter Figueira’s position.
Skipper Greg Bolger fouled goal-scorer Smith inside the box to grant Coughlan the spot kick, sending McGinty the wrong direction and picking up his fifth goal of the season in the process.
In a last ditch pursuit Liam Buckley rolled in the substitutions but his side never seemed to reach top gear and paid for it.
After Shamrock Rovers’ 4-1 devastation of Waterford St Patrick’s now lie just three points behind The Hoops and level with Sligo, the Bit O’Red just edging ahead by one tally on goal difference.
Timeline
| 11. Matty Smith | 7' | |
| 29. Paddy Barrett | 14' | |
| 42' | Regan Donelon Robbie McCourt | |
| 45' | Robbie McCourt Regan Donelon | |
| Billy King Darragh Burns | 62' | |
| 66' | Walter Figueira David Cawley | |
| 70' | 21. John Mahon | |
| 70' | 6. Greg Bolger | |
| 19. Ronan Coughlan | 73' | |
| 82' | Niall Morahan Danny Kane | |
| 82' | Mark Byrne Shane Blaney | |
| 82' | Lewis Banks Johnny Kenny | |
| Matty Smith Jason McClelland | 87' |
Past Meetings
Ground
| Richmond Park |
|---|
| Emmet Road, Kilmainham C ED, Dublin, Dublin 8, Leinster, D08 VK72, Ireland |
Alanna Cunnane
Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.
It's all over in Richmond Park and St Patrick's Athletic have picked up all three points against a Sligo team who never seemed to reach top gear. Final score St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 Sligo Rovers.
3 minutes added time in this game but it looks as if Pat's already have the points wrapped up
McClelland in for the first goalscorer of the day
Smith makes way for Jason McClellend
A tripple substitution for Sligo in an effort to close down the 2-0 gap that currently lies in front of them. Johnny Kenny on for Niall Morahan, Shane Blaney in for Mark Byrne and Lewis Banks makes way for Danny Kane
Coughlan converts the penalty as he sends the keeper the wrong way and picks up his 5th goal of the season against his former club
PENALTY! Bolger brings down Smith in the box and John Mahon earns himself a yellow card
On for Figueria, Cawley has made an impact from the minute he stepped on the pitch with a dink into the box and also a shot towards goal
Substitution for Sligo, Walter Figueira is taken off with David Cawley set to come on
Smith's break towards goal comes off John Mahon and out for a corner.
Byrne derives a free kick on the edge of the area after he was fouled. Gibson steps up to it and floats it over the wall but also over the crossbar.
Paddy Barrett and Parkes infringement has Rovers pleading for a penalty call but referee Paul McLaughlin says to continue play
Bolger corner plucked out of the air by Jaros who pushes his team into a counter attack.
Big second half after tipping off here in Richmond Park!
Halftime in Dublin and St Pat's remain 1-0 Vs to the good versus Sligo thanks to Matty Smith's opener in the 7th minute. Liam Buckley will have been disappointed with the Bit O'Red's showing in the first half and also concerned for Robbie McCourt who has sustained an injury and will be a major loss.
Coughlan and Smith link up to create an opportunity towards goal but Smith's shot veers over
Robbie McCourt is taken off due to suspected arm infringement and there is to be 6 minutes added time as a result of the stoppage.
Approaching halftime in Richmond Park McCourt is replaced by Regan Donelon due to an injury worry
The wall deflects Coughlan's endeavour and it goes out for a corner for the home side. McGinty picks it up and tries to put something in motion for Sligo
Barret bags a free kick for Pat's right on the edge of the box with Coughlan set to take
REAL CHANCE. Benson puts it out to Billy King who thunders a shot towards goal but a massive Ed McGinty save denies the Saints the opportunity to double their lead.
Gibson tries to ignite the back burners but is quickly halted by Lee Desmond who is given a free kick on the edge of his own box
King looping header is caught by Ed McGinty. Pat's have a good period of play as Sligo are struggling to put an attack together
Another Mountney corner but Sligo's defence keeps the attempt at bay by clearing the ball out
St Pat\'s get two corners in a row for Mountney. Benson, Smith and Burns all put efforts towards goal but it remains 1-0 with 20 minutes gone.
First card of the game is awarded to Paddy Barrett. Bolger takes the free and attempts to target teammate Banks but it comes to nothing
Romeo Parkes earns Sligo a corner. Taken by McCourt there's a scramble in the box but The Saint's defence does well to clear it
No Sligo players get on the end of a free kick from Bit O'Red skipper Greg Bolger and the ball floats to Jaros once again.
GOAL! A right footed strike from Smith breezes past Ed McGinty and into the net to make it 1-0. His second in as many games it comes after a sustained period of attacking pressure from Pats
Benson's free kick from the right hand side only finds that of Ed McGinty's safe hands in net.
First chance of the game there for Sligo as a cross into the box is scooped up Jaros with ease
St Pats dawn their away kit this evening after concern was expressed from referee Paul McLaughlin and his officials that the sleeve colour may clash with that of Sligo's attire. Liam Buckley's team wear their black and white apparel.
As the teams warm up in dry but somewhat cloudy conditions the anticipation is building for what it sure to be a cracking fixture. The last time these sides met back at the start of May the result yielded a 1-1 affair, with late drama in the form of an injury time Ian Bermingham header.
200 spectators join the sides in the ground this evening and will surely add to the intense nature and electric atmosphere this match is proposed to provide from 7:45pm onwards.
Just 30 minutes until kick-off here in Richmond Park for this second and third place showdown between St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. Both sides will be gunning for victory as Sligo bid to put the missed chance to go outright first versus Drogheda last week behind them and Pat’s look to assert themselves into the mix and ahead of both of the league leading Rovers sides.