Sligo Rovers 1 - 0 St. Patrick's Athletic

• David Goulden
• Sat, Oct 30 2010


Sligo Rovers qualified for the 2011/12 Europa League at the expense of Friday night’s rivals St. Patrick's Athletic with a last minute Alan Keane penalty after Gary McCabe was taken down in the penalty area. Sligo's win sees them finish third, while disappointingly for Pete Mahon his side finish in fifth position, just outside the European spots.

Rovers were without long term absentees Richard Brush (wrist) and Mauro Almeida (achilles), while St. Pat's had to plan with a late Damien Lynch withdrawal from their team. Rovers needed a draw to confirm a Europa League spot, while Pat's needed three points to guarantee their safe passage through to the same competition.

On a wet night at The Showgrounds, with a heavy pitch both teams struggled to get a hold on the game throughout. Sligo's Romuald Boco looked like he would have the first chance of the game early in the second half but Derek Pender did well to cut across the Benin international before he reached the Pat's goal.

Pat's 'keeper Gary Rogers was the main man in the action for the first half as he did well to deal with a Joseph Ndo cross after the Cameroon international's original corner was cleared away by a Pat's defender. Soon after, Rogers again did well to come off his line and claim an Iarfliath Davoren cross just before it reached the head of Sligo defender Gavin Peers.

Pat's had the best of the early chances in the second half. Former Shelbourne man David McAllister forced a save from Rovers 'keeper Ciaran Kelly on 55 minutes, before the Mayo native superbly tipped Derek Doyle's shot over his crossbar ten minutes later. Sligo had chances with Jim Lauchlan heading narrowly wide, while Joseph Ndo and Richie Ryan continued to cause problems for Pat's as their shots went narrowly over the crossbar and wide to the left respectively.

Dave Mulcahy looked like he would give Mahon's men the lead in the 78th minute when he ran through on goal, but Davoren and Kelly both managed to get enough purchase on the ball between them to see the ball to safety.

It looked as if Sligo would have to settle for 4th place before Gary McCabe was upended in the box a minute before Alan Keane slotted home the 92nd minute winner for The Bit O'Red to see Rovers finish third.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly, Alan Keane, Jim Lauchlan, Gavin Peers, Iarfliath Davoren, Romuald Boco(Danny Ventre 82), Richie Ryan, John Russell, Gary McCabe(Conor O'Grady 85), Joseph Ndo, Matthew Blinkhorn(Eoin Doyle 74).
Subs not used: John Gibson, John Dillon

St. Patrick's Athletic: Gary Rogers, Derek Pender, Connor Kenna, Noel Haverty(Sean Stewart 82), Ian Bermingham, Ryan Guy(Vinny Faherty 71), David McAllister, David Mulcahy, Stuart Byrne(Gareth O'Connor 77), Derek Doyle, Danny North
Subs not used: Chris Bennion, James O'Brien
Booked: David McAllister (67)

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
Attendance (est): 2,800
extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Sligo Rovers' Iarfliath Davoren