- Josh Dolan
- Tue, Apr 15 2014
St Patrick's Athletic 1 - 5 Sligo Rovers (Sligo win 7-1 on aggregate)
Sligo Rovers advanced to the final of The Setanta Sports Cup after a comprehensive 7-1 aggregate win over St Patrick’s Athletic.
A brace from Aaron Greene, as well as goals from Joseph Ndo, John Russell and an own goal from Derek Foran on Monday night added to a 2-0 first leg win. Lee Lynch scored a second half stunner for The Saints, however it turned out to be nothing more than consolation to a dire defensive display.
The Saints replied with a chance of their own just three minutes later, as Keith Fahey played a neat one two with Chris Forrester, however the Ireland international’s tame shot travelled slowly into the grateful hands of Gary Rogers.
St Pat’s should have been in front shortly after. Connor Mc Cormack crossed deep into The Saint’s penalty box, Bit O Red keeper, Gary Rogers elected to punch, but his punch landed on the head of Lee Lynch, but luckily for the netminder Evan McMillan was on hand to clear the ball off the goal-line and out of danger.
The Bit O’Red took the lead against the run of play, on 21 minutes, as David Cawley played the ball to Djilali who sent it across the penalty box and Aaron Greene was on hand to shoot past Brendan Clarke and put The Saints one up on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.
Sligo were two up just five minutes later. Danny Ledwith burst down the left wing, before pulling the ball back for Joseph Ndo, who fired past the helpless Brendan Clarke and into The Saint’s net.
It got even worse for The Saints after 38 minutes, as Danny Ledwith played a ball in behind The Saint’s back four, where Aaron Greene was waiting to curl the ball past Brendan Clarke from an extremely tight angle, to make it 5-0 on aggregate.
The home team did come close to pulling a goal back on half-time as Chris Forrester’s exquisite chip shaved Gary Roger’s cross-bar.
Chances were at a premium in the second half and Saint’s substitute Sam Verdon had a golden one on 61 minutes, as the young midfielder picked up a loose ball after a goal mouth scramble in the Rovers penalty box, however his tame shot was blocked and cleared by the Pat’s rear guard.
St Pat’s pulled a consolation goal back on 68 minutes, as Lee Lynch latched onto a loose ball 30 yards out from goal, before unleashing a magical shot that flew past Gary Rogers and into the Bit O’Red net.
It really was an awful night for The Saints and their misery was compounded on 71 minutes, as Danny Ledwith found himself in space on the left, before drilling a ball into the penalty area where Saints defender Derek Foran diverted the ball into his own net, to make it 4-1 on the night and 6-1 on aggregate.
John Russell put Sligo 5-1 up on the 80th minute, as Evan McMillan headed a Danny North corner in his direction and the ex-Saint took full advantage by passing the ball past Clarke.
Lee Lynch came close to getting his second on 89 minutes, as Daryl Kavanagh’s cross found the ex-Sligo man, but the volley rebounded back off the cross-bar.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Connor McCormack, Ken Oman (Sean Hoare 46), Derek Foran, Ian Bermingham (c); Keith Fahey (Sam Verdon 46), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Daryl Kavanagh; Lee Lynch, Mark Quigley, Chris Forrester (Marco Chindea 77).
Subs Not Used: Pat Jennings (gk), Kenny Browne, Conan Byrne;,Christy Fagan.
Booked: Keith Fahey (45+1), Daryl Kavanagh (57).
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane (c), Evan McMillan, Kalen Spillane, Danny Ledwith; David Cawley, Paul O’Conor, Joseph Ndo (John Russell 46); Kieran Djilali (Eric Odhiambo 77), Aaron Greene (Danny North 64), Ross Gaynor.
Subs Not Used: Richard Brush (gk), Jake Dykes, Jordan Loftus, Sean Maguire.
Booked: None.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Official Attendance: 557.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Danny Ledwith (Sligo Rovers).
