St Patrick's Ath 3 Sligo Rovers 1:RYAN GUY hit two goals in as many minutes to give St Pat's the perfect start in the opening game of the season at Richmond Park last night.

A half hour stand-off had developed between the two teams before the game over a clash of jerseys before Sligo eventually entered the field decked in the away strip of their opponents.

Sligo went in front on 26 minutes when, following a free from Sligo captain Conor Grady, Jamie McKenzie took a pass off Chris Butler and having rounded the advancing Barry Ryan, slotted home from the left-hand side of the six-yard box.

Pat's were denied by the oustanding Pat Jennings in the Sligo goal, but the goalkeeper had no answer when Jamie Harris headed home from the right on the hour mark. A minute later, Damien Lynch should have made it two but the effort was cleared by Mauro Almeida.

The action continued to pick up with Mark Quiqley just failing to get on the end of a cross from Gary O'Neill. But then on 65 minutes Ryan Guy beat Jennings with a glancing header and the American followed up with a first-time effort from inside the box two minutes later.

Sligo went close in the latter stages, but Ryan proved alert to two late efforts, the latter a strike from Fahrudin Kudozovic.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Lynch, Ó Cearuill, Harris, Partridge; Guy, Dempsey, Fahey, Quigley; Quigley, O'Neill. Subs: Byrne for Brown (63 mins), Kirby for Quigley (85 mins), Brennan for O'Neill (90 mins)

SLIGO ROVERS: Jennings; Cretaro, McKenzie, Almeida, Butler; Murphy, O'Grady, Moore, Doherty; Kudozic, Boco. Subs: Judge for Moore (62 mins), Cash for Doherty (65 mins), Curran for Murphy (83 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).