- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Apr 24 2015
Aaron Greene struck twice and Chris Forrester scored a third as St Patrick's Athletic swatted aside a poor Sligo Rovers team at Richmond Park but Liam Buckley's men remain in fifth position in the league table.
It was a game that the Saints controlled from the very first whistle, and the only concern for Liam Buckley will be why it took 51 minutes to make safe the points from a game in which they enjoyed total dominance.
There were too returning faces in Buckley's starting line-up, as Seán Hoare and Greg Bolger replaced Lee Desmond and James Chambers having being rested for Monday night's draw with Drogheda United.
Owen Heary made one change to the side that drew with Bohemians, as Danny Ledwith returned from suspension in place of the injured John Russell, whose absence meant the away side could only name six substitutes.
The home side showed their attacking intent early as Killian Brennan – taking up a more advanced role than usual alongside Chris Forrester – called Sligo keeper Richard Brush into action inside 60 seconds with a volley from 30 yards.
St Patrick's Athletic should have taken the lead when Aaron Greene linked up with Brennan and stood up a cross for Conan Byrne but, from six yards, the winger could only head straight into the arms of Brush.
The pressure on the Sligo goal was relentless, with Forrester, Hoare and Byrne again going close, before Pats finally got the goal their play merited when Aaron Greene glanced in a header from Ian Bermingham's looping cross.
Byrne wasted another golden opportunity moments later as Bermingham swept through a passive Sligo defence and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot, but the winger's shot was well wide.
As the conditions deteriorated into torrential rain, Steven Beattie was booked for diving and Danny Ledwith was fortunate to avoid receiving his second red card in two games as he lunged over the ball to connect with Ciarán Kilduff, but referee Paul Tuite took account of the slippery surface and gave only a free kick.
St Pats continued to create chances but after Brennan botched a 4-on-2 counter attack, they were almost made to pay for their profligacy as Keith Ward teed up David Cawley, with the final effort requiring an excellent save from Conor O'Malley to divert the goalbound shot onto the crossbar.
The Saints had the ball in the net for a second time shortly before the break when Kilduff converted from Ger O'Brien's right wing cross at the far post, but eagle-eyed Tuite noticed Kilduff had punched the ball into the net and booked the striker.
Kilduff had more reason to be aggrieved early in the second half as he appeared to be dragged to the ground inside the box by Gary Boylan but Tuite, who was well-positioned, waved play on.
Pats did indeed make it 2-0 six minutes into the second half as Greene latched onto Forrester's pass inside the 18-yard box. He appeared to have taken the ball too wide, but he cut across the ball brilliantly to squeeze his effort into the far corner of the net for his second of the game.
Owen Heary introduced Raffaele Cretaro and Gary Armstrong for Keith Ward and Danny Ledwith, the lack of any real creativity in the Sligo ranks was apparent as the game became a stroll for St Patrick's Athletic, who saw Killian Brennan limp off after an awkward fall.
With five minutes to go Pats managed to conclude their nights work in style, Chris Forrester gave the scoreline the sheen Pats deserved when he strode through a barely existent Sligo midfield and shot low and hard from 25 yards into the corner of Brush's net.
St Patrick's Athletic: Conor O'Malley; Ger O'Brien (Conor McCormack 75), Kenny Browne (Lee Desmond 86), Seán Hoare, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne, Killian Brennan (James Chambers 71), Greg Bolger, Chris Forrester, Aaron Greene; Ciarán Kilduff.
Subs not used:Brendan Clarke (gk), Jason McGuinness, Jamie McGrath, Morgan Langley.
Booked: Kilduff (41).
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Alan Keane, Stephen Folan, Gary Boylan, Danny Ledwith (Raffaele Cretaro 61); Keith Ward (Gary Armstrong 61), Jake Dykes. Dave Cawley, Sander Puri; Morten Nielsen, Steven Beattie.
Subs not used:Ryan Coulter (gk), Ryan McManus, Eoin Wearen, Dinny Corcoran.
Booked:Boylan (22), Beattie (25), Cawley (53), Brush (66).
Referee:Paul Tuite.
Official attendance:1,259
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Aaron Greene (St Patrick's Athlethic).
