Sport

St Pat's title hopes suffer another setback

St Patrick’s Ath 0 Sligo Rovers 0: ST PAT’S and Sligo Rovers took a point each from a game full of action and chances at Richmond…

Sat Aug 21 2010 - 01:00

St Patrick's Ath 0 Sligo Rovers 0:ST PAT'S and Sligo Rovers took a point each from a game full of action and chances at Richmond Park.

With Shamrock Rovers winning comfortably, St Pat’s lost more costly ground in the title race.

Rovers had much the better start and Richie Ryan shot just over the Pat’s bar inside the opening 90 seconds. The early Rovers pressure continues as Pat’s struggled to keep up with the pace and their visitors’ neat passing.

Sligo threatened again on nine minutes when Ryan threaded a ball through to Gary McCabe in the box but St Pat’s defender Shane Guthrie got a foot in and forced the ball out for a corner.

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When Pat’s did venture forward they either lost possession or wasted decent-looking chances.

One of those chances came on 18 minutes when Stuart Byrne in the centre curled a pass over to Ryan Guy on the right of the box but the American fired high and wide.

Former St Pat’s man Joseph Ndo then went close for Sligo on 23 minutes with a fierce free kick that went inches over the crossbar.

Byrne, Ian Bermingham and Derek Doyle were all involved for Pat’s on 31 minutes when they pieced together a neat move that took the ball from far out on the left wing to the edge of the box.

However, Rovers’ Gavin Peers managed to clear the ball out of the danger area. Eoin Doyle headed a Ryan free over the top a minute after that while Pat’s keeper Gary Rogers made an excellent save from Romauld Boco’s header on 40 minutes.

Ndo had a great start to the second period for Rovers and did very well on 52 minutes when he dispossessed Gareth O’Connor and fired a 25-yard shot just wide.

Pat’s had their chances too with Sligo having goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly to thank for a series of vital saves including one on 57 minutes from Vinny Faherty after the Pat’s sub had connected with O’Connor’s perfect pass.

Pat’s then peppered Kelly’s goal with Faherty, Doyle, Guy and Bermingham amongst those trying their luck but no one could find the back of the net. O’Connor could have won it at the death but shot wide in injury time.

ST PATRICK’S ATH: Rogers; Bermingham, Kenna, Guthrie, Pender; McAllister, Byrne, Guy, Mulcahy (O‘Connor 20 mins), D Doyle (Cash 75 mins); North (Faherty 51 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Davoren, Lauchlan, Peers, Keane; Ryan, McCabe (O‘Grady 67 mins), Boco, Ndo, E Doyle (Dillon 75 mins); Amond (Blinkhorn 61 mins).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).

Att: 1,700