Cian Kavanagh of Sligo Rovers celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park in Dublin. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Sligo Rovers are still on the lookout for their first points of the League Of Ireland 2025 season. Despite scoring three away goals, it was former Rovers fans favourite Aidan Keena who proved to be the difference tonight.
Sligo Rovers made two changes from the team defeated by Drogheda United in their last outing. Academy graduate Gareth McElroy replaced Ollie Denham, who went off in the latter stages of the Drogheda defeat. Matty Wolfe also replaced Owen Elding in the starting 11, slotting in in the centre of the park.
The first half was largely dominated by St Pats. They started brightly with Brandon Kavanagh getting on a lot of the ball. Barry Baggley and Jake Mulraney also impressed early on. The Rovers defence reacted well to the pressure put on early, dealing with a number of crosses into the box. Both McElroy and Captain John Mahon both made important interceptions early on to keep the score nil all.
Sligo Rovers had a clear tactical plan this evening, where keeper Sam Sargeant was happy to send his kick outs long, while squeezing and pressurising Pats in their own half. Sargeant had a very busy night dealing with plenty of efforts on goal, especially from Jake Mulraney’s effort on 32 minutes, when Sargeant turned the ball around the goal for a corner kick.
There was 35 minutes on the clock when Connor Malley was dispossessed while in possession. Brandon Kavanagh played a lovely ball out to Zach Elbouzedi who’s left footed strike went into the far corner to give St Pats the lead. The healthy Rovers travelling support will be disappointed and likely feel Sargeant could have got a stronger hand to it. It was the start of a real entertaining game in front of a crowd of 4829 in Richmond Park.
Within sixty seconds, it was two! Marquee striker and former Sligo Rovers fans favourite Aidan Keena got his first of the game. After plucking the ball out of the air, the rovers defence dropped off allowing Keena to carry the ball ten meters. The striker unleashed an unstoppable strike from twenty yards, the ball flying past Sargeant. The keeper had no chance. It was all St Pats and many would have thought this game would be completely one sided. The joys of ‘ The greatest League in the world ‘ !
After 39 mins, The Bit O’Red were back in it. New signing Jad Hakiki did very well, providing a lovely cross field ball to Will Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald got the better of Anto Breslin and with his weaker right foot, played a lovely ball into the box towards Rovers striker Cian Kavanagh. St Pats fullback, Axel Sjoberg was first to the ball, turning it into his own net. Rovers back in this game, going into the break. 2-1 Pats.
The second half started like a replica of the first. The experienced Chris Forrester who replaced the injured Romal Palmer in the first half added real quality to the St Pats midfield. It was he, who added a third for St Pats in the 51st minute. Brandon Kavanagh assisted, and Forrester coolly curled the ball into the back of the net past Sargeant. A site St Pats fans have witnessed on numerous occasions over the years. 3-1 Pats.
In the 55th minute, Sligo Rovers were offered a lifeline when Cian Kavanagh was tripped inside the box by Sjoeberg. Kavanagh dusted himself down to step up for the penalty. Joseph Anang started with the mind games while waiting for Kavanagh. Unfortunately the St Pats keeper guessed right and Kavanagh had his second penalty of the season saved. Still 3-1 with 35 minutes plus to play!
On 64 minutes, St Pats captain Joe Redmond was caught too casually trying a Cryuff turn. Youngster Owen Elding carried the ball only for Redmond to pull him back and get a yellow card. Free kick to rovers. Will Fitzgerald played a floating ball to the back post. Unmarked Cian Kavanagh headed the ball into the ground past Anang. Very poor goalkeeping by the former West Ham youngster. 3-2 Pats.
It was game on after 77 minutes. Kavanagh got his second for Rovers. A beautiful back heel by Connor Malley found Fitzgerald who played a ball across goal for Kavanagh to side foot into the roof of the net. Well deserved for Kavanagh who was often isolated up top but worked his socks off.
John Russell will be bitterly disappointed as within 60 seconds of the restart, it was 4-3 to Pats, the winning of the game and Aidan Keena the goal scorer. Keena jinxed his way through a couple of bodies inside the box, and his weak strike on his left foot sent Sargeant the wrong way. It won’t be his prettiest goal of the season, but one of huge importance and got St Pats their first league win of the season.
In the 93rd minute, Sligo Rovers had a half chance to grab a draw but it wasn’t to be. Ronan Manning’s overhead kick sailed over the bar and Pats held on.
A very difficult start to the season for the Bit O’Red who face Shamrock Rovers this Monday night. It’s vital a healthy crowd gets behind this young team as they hope to get their season up and running.
Man of the match – Aidan Keena. A real impressive performance from the St Pats striker. His two goals will grab the headlines, but his all round play this evening showed why he is up there with the best in the league.
St Pats: 94 J Anang, 23 R McLaughlin, 4 J Redmond, 5 T Grovosti, 3 A Breslin, 14 B Kavanagh, 19 B Baggley, 17, R Palmer, 7 Z Elbouzedi, 18 A Keena, 20 J Mulraney
Subs : A Sjoeberg for McLaughlin 16 mins
C Forrester for Palmer 27 mins
M Melia for Kavanagh 70 mins
J McClelland for Mulraney 71 mins
Sligo Rovers: 29 S Sargeant, 52 G McElroy, 21 J Mahon, 3 R Hutchinson, 2 H Lintott, 6 M Wolfe, 8 J Hakiki, 27 C Malley, 49 J Doyle Hayes, 7 W Fitzgerald, 11 C Kavanagh
Subs : O Elding for Wolfe 60 mins
O Van Hattum for Lintott 81 mins
F Lomboto for Kavanagh 81 mins
R Manning for Doyle Hayes 81 mins