Buckley - It's Dundalk's league to lose

St Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley praised his side’s first half performance which lead to their 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers in the Airtricity Premier Division at Inchicore on Friday night.

“The performance was decent. I thought we played really well in the first half. I thought we deserved our lead coming into half time. In the second half Sligo did come into it and played better and had more possession of the ball but I think we had the better chances.

“In saying that Brendan Clarke made a tremendous save to keep it at 1-0. If we had bagged a second goal I think it would have been over. In fairness to Sligo they dug in. They are a decent outfit and I can see them taking points off teams.”

Saint Pats were without a number of players tonight through injury and suspension and Buckley revealed that he will have more options for next week's match away to Cork City.

“Killian Brennan will definitely be available. Keith Fahey will be back from suspension. Ger O' Brien will be available. Ken Oman may not be. It will be borderline whether we will risk him. He had a calf strain but he is back in training this week so we will see how he goes.”

The Saints boss also revealed to Extratime.ie that he believes that the title is very much in Dundalk's hands. The league leaders are currently nine points clear of 3^rd place Pats.

“It's Dundalk's to lose obviously at this stage. They are nine points clear. Their result tonight knocks Cork back. It will be difficult. We just have to keep looking to the next match. We still have to play Dundalk here. We will more than likely have to get a result here against them to try and peg back something but it's theirs to lose at this stage bearing in mind where they are. I am delighted with the result. It just keeps us nice and tight with Cork and to a lesser degree Dundalk.”