St Patrickโs Athletic 2
Sligo Rovers 0
ST PATRICKโS ATHLETIC went level on points with Sligo in the table after beating them 2-0 in the Premier Division tonight, as former Saints boss Liam Buckley made a losing return to Inchicore.
An early Mattie Smith goal and a 72-minute Ronan Coughlan penalty earned the hosts a deserved victory.
Patโs dominated the first half, while Sligo got the better of the early part of the second period before the spot-kick proved enough for the Dublin side to pick up all three points.
Elsewhere, Shamrock Roversโ defeat of Waterford saw them go three points clear of both these sides at the top of the table.
200 supporters were spread throughout the ground as fans returned to Richmond Park after a pandemic-enforced 470-day absence.
Both these teams found themselves in promising positions in the table ahead of this fixture.
Sligo were second, behind leaders Shamrock Rovers on goal difference only, while Patโs trailed them by just three points in third.
The Saints were unchanged from last weekโs 3-1 win away to Longford.
Sligo, meanwhile, made two alterations from the recent defeat against Drogheda, with Romeo Parkes and Colm Horgan coming in for Shane Blaney and Ryan De Vries.
After a high-tempo opening, Smith gave the hosts the lead on seven minutes. Robbie Bensonโs clipped through ball was only half-cleared and it broke favourably for the Patโs attacker in the area and he finished clinically when through on goal.
The game played out in a scrappy fashion thereafter, with both sides struggling to create chances.
Just after the 20-minute mark, the hosts went close to doubling their advantage. The ball broke to Smith on the edge of the area, but Lewis Banks was in the right place to block the former Dundee United manโs goal-bound effort.
As the half wore on, Patโs became increasingly dominant, with Sligo lacking threat and Romeo Parkes cutting an isolated figure up front.
On the half-hour mark, Stephen OโDonnellโs side went close again. Benson played through Billy King, who evaded the challenge of Robbie McCourt before his powerful strike required a strong hand from Ed McGinty to keep it out.
They had another great chance shortly thereafter, as Parkes was adjudged to have fouled Paddy Barrett on the edge of the area after a corner was only half-cleared.
From the ensuing set-piece, Coughlan fired an arrow-like free-kick that was deflected marginally over.
The visitors were dealt another blow just before half-time, as McCourt fell awkwardly when he attempted to control the ball. The former West Brom youngster suffered what appeared to be an arm injury, and was replaced by Regan Donelon in a straight swap at left-back.
On the brink of half-time, Smith won the ball on the edge of the Sligo area, but his effort sailed over.
At the break, the superior Patโs will have been disappointed that the winning margin was not wider, while Sligo were hoping for a better second-half display after a toothless opening 45.
The away team looked brighter at the start of the second half, as Mark Byrneโs low shot was deflected just wide, after a lay-off from Parkes on the edge of the area.
10 minutes after the break, there were claims for a penalty, as Parkes went down in the area with Barrett the closest player to him, but the referee waved play on.
Moments later, a dangerous inswinging delivery from Jordan Gibson just missed the head of John Mahon, after the initial corner was cleared.
With Sligo beginning to get the upper hand, OโDonnell reacted with Darragh Burns coming on in place of King on the hour mark.
The Saints then made another change 10 minutes later. With Patโs having lost their grip in midfield, a defensive switch saw Jamie Lennon replace Chris Forrester, whose influence had been waning.
Then, against the run of play, Patโs scored a second. Coughlan played through Smith and Greg Bolger committed a rash challenge to concede a penalty.
The 24-year-old striker then stepped up to take the penalty, sending McGinty the wrong way, to net against his former club with 18 minutes remaining.
Sligo reacted by making several substitutions in the dying minutes and went three at the back, as they desperately looked for a way back into the contest, but Patโs comfortably saw the game out for a big win, as they leapfrogged their rivals into second.
St Patrickโs Athletic: 1. Vรญtฤzslav Jaroลก 2. John Mountney 3. Ian Bermingham (captain) 5. Lee Desmond 29. Paddy Barrett 16. Alfie Lewis 8. Chris Forrester (Lennon 70) 7. Robbie Benson 15. Billy King (Burns 60) 12. Mattie Smith (McClelland 87) 10. Ronan Coughlan.
Subs: 21. Barry Murphy 25. Josh Keely 4. Sam Bone 6. Jamie Lennon 11. Jason McClelland 17. Darragh Burns 18. Ben McCormack 27. Danny Norris 38. Tommy Lonergan
Sligo Rovers: 1. Ed McGinty 2. Lewis Banks (Kane 80) 3. Colm Horgan 21. John Mahon 8. Niall Morahan (Kenny 80) 5. Robbie McCourt (Donelon 42) 12. Mark Byrne (Blaney 80) 6. Greg Bolger (captain) 10. Walter Figueria (Cawley 65) 7. Jordan Gibson 27. Romeo Parkes.
Subs: 30. Richard Brush 4. Danny Kane 9. Ryan De Vries 14. Shane Blaney 19. Regan Donelon 22. David Cawley 24. Johnny Kenny 25. Cillian Heeney 33. Peter Maguire
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Heโs a goner! Still its his own fault and he hasnโt been anywhere near as good as he was last year, so its not as bad of a loss.
@Coner Willis: itโs a terrible shame but it was a stupid thing to do.
However, I doubt youโll find a flood of texts into the Sunday game like there was last week from WD supporters about Galways Adrian Touhy. It was a bit sad really
@Seamus McSpud: although his goal was top class, it was still very selfish and should have been passed off earlier. You wouldnโt see a Shefflin or Canning do it, if he had missed it heโd be crucified
Gโlad!!
A stonewall red. What was he doing? Not his first time to commit this crime either. Last years Munster final on the bonner maher , he did the same.
@t: pity it wasnโt caught during the game. Result would have been different I think. Hard to take a team playing sweeper winning. First half was like two half decent junior sides playing one another.
@Paul O Mahony: sorry we scored 4-19. Ultra defensive stuff. Clown!
@Sean Healy: i wanted waterford to win and im delighted for ye but ye cant say youre not a defensive teamโฆwaterford scored 3-8 AFTER the sending off. And listening to that arseh0le donal og after the match was more of the same scutter
@Sean Healy: Waterford only managed 1-11 before man was sent off. Not exactly shooting the lights out!
@Lord Clanricarde: Oh please give the negativity a rest. Waterford scored 4-23 against Kilkenny with all 15 Kilkenny players on the fieldโฆ Another 4 goals against Cork today. When teams are reduced to 14 players they donโt always lose and the opposition donโt always score 3-9 against them. In 2004 when Mullane was sent off, I seem to remember Waterford won with 14 men.
@Tom OโBrien: Give it a rest Tom. U do know the score with Kilkenny included an extra 20 minutes?? I was there today and they deserved to win but are a horrid team to watch as a neutral!
@James Quinn: i was there today also and throughly enjoyed the game and I was there for the entire Kilkenny game including the additional 20 minutes. Not all teams score 4-23 when extra time is played either as you know. You are all so negative, jumping on the bandwagon with pundits like Shefflin. Remember Kilkenny didnโt do tactics like dropping half forwards back crowding the area under the dropping ball. Where were you all back then when that was going on. The media werenโt talking about it so you didnโt have any independent thoughts of your own. Or maybe you donโt think teams like Kilkenny do tactics and believe Cody when he says he expects every man to win his own ball. Ya rightโฆ
@Tom OโBrien: Give it a rest. Youโd swear the likes of Eoin Larkin never scored from what youโre saying. Galway will have no problem beating ye in the final. Hopefully it will be a repeat of 2008 and 3-30 on the scoreboard and Gleeson this time looking on from the sideline after his stupidity but sure nothing new been from Waterford. Ye are the most deluded fans iv ever come across!
@James Quinn: Galway might beat us and if they do theyโll deserve it Iโm sure, they look a serious team and I wouldnโt begrudge them. Most of the pundits on here said Cork would win also and they got that spectacularly wrong so I wonโt write us completely off just yet. If Gleason isnโt playing, it serves him right, a stupid thing to do when the ball was dead. No excuse there. I rather him not play the final than do something stupid like that in the final and get sent off. I thought it was a fabulous game of hurling today, roll on the finalโฆ How much would Waterford have scored against Cork, Kilkenny and Wexford if they didnโt play so negatively in your view?
@Tom OโBrien: not sure what you mean about Eoin Larkin. I donโt recall saying Eoin Larkin had a problem scoring. He scored plenty in his time. Kilkenny played tactics and he scored. Simples. Itโs a secret though about the tactics, donโt tell anyone
@Tom OโBrien: Waterford had the stronger bench they would of pulled away regardless of the sending off, real hurling people could see that including the cork manager
Zero sympathy especially with all the focus on the issue at the moment. Deserves to be suspended. Different game had officials not bottled it. How Donal รg can go on the radio and say thereโs no way to prove intent is baffling. Clear intent in this case.
@Jack Ronan: Donal Og is a clown. The best thing they can do is say nothing and hope it blows over.
What a stupid thing to do. When I seen it itโs like, there you go GAA, in your face. Heโs screwed up royally
Iโd be sceptical about anything happening. Heโs the golden boy of hurling and has already been let away with it twice last year and once this year.
Definite red card if it had been seen. Far worse than anything de Bรบrca or Tuohy did. If his fingers had moved a bit, he wouldnโt have been far off gouging Meade. Gleeson had a great game but that was just incredibly stupid.
GAA have no real choice here.
Well done Waterford, best of luck in the final. The sending off changed the game. Cork looked to be control until then.
I didnโt see the Austin Gleeson incident, but the photo on this site looks damming. Looks like heโll miss the final. Why he would get involved in this is baffling, especially after the De Burca and Bennett incidents. #braindead!
@Joe Kennefick: How far were Cork in control,just curious?
As a neutral, Iโll be so so disappointed if Gleeson doesnโt play in the final.Such a mindless thing to do. His goal was exceptional, just magic..
@Dave Fingleton: he shouldnโt have been on the field to score it.
@Paul O Mahony: youโre seriously miserable about waterford doing well arenโt you? Sad
An 8 team 60/1 accy let down by Callahan, Cork were a joke.. seemed to go from the backs launching to the forwards for Waterford to mop up, Waterford were easily the worthy winners, quarter final in hurling.. anyones game. The final is Galways!
Using the Galway analogy that heโs not looking at the player, then heโll got off! Canโt have it every way people.
@Sean Healy: the irony! You were screaming for Tuohy to get banned last week! In any event my analogy of the de burca still stands. Ref didnโt take action which mean Austin should be ok. The other Gleeson is certain to miss out though. It would actually be embarrassing for Waterford if they appeal that!
@Sean Healy: huge difference Sean the ball was dead in Austinโs incident. Tuohy was mid play and running backwards. But just let him play. We wonโt have to listen to the moaning for three weeks.
@Sean Healy: Tuohy put heโs hand back an clipped helmet strap. Gleeson put heโs hand into helmet and pulled it clean off Meades head!..He deserves a ban, not his first time!..
@Sean Healy: Sean Gleeson did this deliberately, Touhys was a pure accident in a tussle. Gleeson will be very lucky not to miss the final
@Lord Clanricarde: itโs a stupid rule anyway,very dangerous to take a players helmet off yeah ,what used to happen years ago . Oh yeah no one wore helmets..if ye tolerate this then rubber Hurleys could be next.
If Gleeson had got a red card at the time he or waterford would not have to worry the Final, swings and roundabouts .
Ye four are in for it when the Waterford crowd get home !!
@Gerry Campbell: let them text into the Sunday game.
The GAA worse than golf now for post match video analysis catching foul play after the factโฆ.
@Colm: well done waterford, no sour grapes, but if gleeson plays in the final that rule may as well be torn up.
Probably the single most stupid act Iโve seen a player commit in quite a while. Deserves zero sympathy and he has done his county no favoursโฆ.
Is he not likely to get away with it?? I thought the incident has to be mentioned in the refs report in order to get a suspension
@Ruairi Kinsella: Youโre spot on. This incident was seen by officials and deemed a nothing incident. As a result, unless it features in the referees report the CCCC cannot act on it.
No, Iโm 100% he can play the final, you can pull the helmet off your man, just donโt let the ref or linesmen see you! Cork had zero plan for sweeper , no excuse they had plenty of time to think about it.
Cork were hit hard, not in a dirty way but werenโt able to handle that. Every shot was rushed because they where under so much pressure. Cork had no plan B like a lot of teams that play Waterford. They all think they can beat them with their A plan but doesnโt always work. Waterford had some serious homework done. As for Gleason he should miss the final itโs in the rules. It is a pity tho.
Go away ye bitter shower of fools. Weโre in the final and thatโs it. Hope we go on to win it now. Serious team we have this year. HOW BOU DAH???โช
@Darragh Kelly: waterfords second team gave Galway a bit of a fright in the league so maybe their first team could go 1 step further
I want to see both Galway and Waterford at full strength in the All Ireland Final. I want to see Austin Gleeson play against the Galway boys and I want to see the top exponents of our glorious game contest this All-Ireland final. I am a neutral who hasnโt missed an All-Ireland final for 37 years and I want to see both teams at full strength, apart from.Conor Gleeson. We need to get rid of those bloody helmets!!!