St. Pats visited the Showgrounds on Sunday the 14th of July for a top of the table clash. This game was vital for Sligo to close the gap on the Saints to one point. However should pats have won they would have extended the lead to seven points ahead of the bit 'o red.
Supporters from both sides came in great numbers to create an ecstatic atmosphere on a perfet sunny afternoon in Sligo. The last time these sides met in the Showgrounds it was a memorable day as Sligo clenched the league title in a dramatic 3-2 win over the Dublin side.
The first real chance came in the 13th minute when Sligo's new signing Dave McMillan had his shot take a deflection and palm wide by Clarke. But Pats grabbed the opener in the 17th minute when a long ball caused a mix up in the Sligo defense which allowed Anto Flood through to finish excellently past the Rovers 'keeper. Rovers had a golden opportunity to draw level when Lynchs cross was headed straight at Clarke by Cawley from 3 yards out. No other major incidents to report in the first half, a yellow card for both sides with David Cawley going in the book for a clumsy challenge and Birmingham going in for the Saints. With Pats dominating possession and Rovers struggling to create chances the half time whistle was a relief for the home crowd.
The second half was a far different affair with Sligo gaining all the momentum, Dave McMillan with a nice solo run but his shot couldn't keep down. Maher was booked for bringing Keane down after a good run up the right wing, the free kick was whipped in by Ndo but deflected out for a corner. The corner was put in for Peers to flick on but Clarke was on hand to touch it out for yet another corner. On 72 Keane made another brilliant run and sent a cross in to Elding at the back post but his header goes over. Rovers almost gifted Pats the winner when a mis-kick from Peers allowed Bolger to run through but his attempted was saved brilliantly by Rogers.
All of Rovers momentum payed off in the 81st minute after a series of corners, a scramble in the six yard box was hit into the top corner by Evan McMillan, not the McMillan people were expecting i'm sure! With that goal and the ever increasing pressure rovers applied to the Pats defense the home fans were shouting for a winner while the away support were shouting for the full time whistle. On 86 Fagan came on for Flood who was booked for time wasting on his way off. 6 minutes added and the goal looked like it would come at any minute but unfortunately for Sligo the full time whistle came before it and the sides had to share the spoils at 1-1.
Rovers Teams: Rogers, Keane, Peers, McMillan. Davoren, Conneely, Ndo, Lynch, Cawley, McMillan, Elding.
Rovers Subs: Kelly, Henderson, Gaynor, Martin, Connolly, Dykes, Djilali
St. Pats: Clarke, O'Brien, Bermingham, Kenna, Price, Bolger, McFaul, Maher, Byrne, Flood, Forrester
St. Pats subs: Ryan, Kelly, Durrand, Hughes, Fagan, Gannon, Fitzgerald
Man of the match: Evan McMillan
Attendance: 3,180
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