League Report: St Patrick’s Athletic 3 – 2 Sligo Rovers – The home of Irish football

But that won’t bother them, because they are already preparing for a new match in the European Conference League, next Thursday evening at home against FC Sabah from Azerbaijan.

Sligo Rovers also had reason to head to the capital full of confidence, arriving in Inchicore on the back of a stunning run of four games in a row without defeat.

They certainly gave back as much as they got from the Pats, even leading twice in the game before going down in the 99th on a tremendous game-winning goal.^e minute of the match.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute when Conor Malley took advantage of a loose pass from Jamie Lennon and he stepped forward from midfield before firing a superb shot from distance, giving Joseph Anang no chance.

It didn’t take long for the home side to draw level and after 25 minutes the teams were level (1-1).

Aidan Keena fed Jake Mulraney a pass down the left flank, he passed JR Wilson who then pulled Mulraney’s shirt in the penalty area, referee Rob Hennessy had no choice but to award the penalty and Kenna fired home powerfully for his first goal for the club

At half time the score was still 1-1, but Rovers did not need long to regain the lead and were already 2-1 ahead in the 53rd minute.^rd minute

After a great display from Rovers, Will Fitzgerald provided a great cross from the left and Ellis Chapman was left unmarked in the box to head the ball past Anang – another fine goal for the visitors.

Both managers made a number of changes and one of them, Brandon Kavanagh, turned out to be the super sub who decided the game in the Pats’ favour.

Kavanagh collected a loose ball in midfield in the 65^e minute and shot from distance at Ed McGinty. The Rovers keeper can normally deal with this with ease, but this time the ball seemed to wobble before it reached him and bounced into the net, making it 2-2.

The drama continued until the end of the match and 10 minutes of extra time were played, with the controversial winning goal for the Pats coming in the 99th.^e minute.

The home side were awarded a free kick on the halfway line and as Kavanagh slotted the ball into the net a struggle ensued between Chapman and Luke Turner, with the latter falling to the ground with the Rovers player making only minimal contact.

Referee Rob Hennessy awarded a penalty to the amazement of the Rovers players and fans, and indeed all neutral spectators, but the Pats made the most of the decision and Kavanagh slotted home the penalty to put the home side 3-2 ahead.

Rovers manager John Russell was shown a red card for protesting the decision to the referee and the final whistle blew shortly afterwards.

Athletics St. Patrick: Joseph Tetteh Anang; Al Amin Kazeem (Anto Breslin 60), Joseph Redmond, Axel Sjöberg, Luke Turner, Christopher Forrester (Mason Melia 60) Kian Leavy, Jamie Lennon, Romal Palmer (Brandon Kavanagh 60); Aidan Keena (Zack Elbouzedi 66), Jake Mulraney (Aaron Bolger 76).

Unused substitutes: Starring Daniel Rogers, Conor Keeley, Jason McClelland and Alex Nolan.

Booked: Jamie Lennon (88).

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, John Ross Wilson, Nando Pijnaker; Ellis Chapman, Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow 97), Niall Morahan (Jack Henry Francis 84); William Fitzgerald, Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 84), Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 76).

Unused substitutes: Starring Richard Brush, Charlie Wiggett, Kyle McDonagh, Daire Patton and Gareth McElroy.

Booked: Nando Pijnaker (25), Niall Morahan (66), JR Wilson (88), Killian Barlow (98).

Sent: John Russel (99).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

Presence: 3,211.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Axel Sjoberg (St Patrick’s Athletic).

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— St Patrick’s Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) August 4, 2024