Aidan Keena bags brace as Saints edge Sligo in seven-goal thriller

Aidan Keena scored twice to help down his former club as St Patrick’s Athletic laboured to their first victory of the campaign following this madcap clash at Richmond Park.

Making the most of limited possession, Sligo battled gamely throughout with ex-Saint Cian Kavanagh forcing an own goal before scoring twice himself, either side of having a penalty saved, before Keena got what proved the winner.

Ahead of a big week to come with games against Derry City and Shamrock Rovers, the negatives on the night for St Pat’s manager Stephen Kenny were first-half injuries to right-back Ryan McLaughlin and midfielder Romal Palmer, while Barry Baggley was sent off in added time for a second booking.

John Russell’s Sligo, meanwhile, remain bottom of the table having conceded 10 goals in their three defeats to date.

Though St Pat’s started very much on the front foot, it was the 33rd minute before they worked Sam Sargeant between the visitors’ posts.

Chris Forrester’s ball forward was cleverly flicked on by Keena for Jake Mulraney, Sargeant batting the winger’s volley round a post.

It marked a mere reprieve, though, St Pat’s pressure finally telling as they scored twice inside as many minutes.

Zach Elbouzedi opened the scoring on 36 minutes, drilling low to the far corner, Brandon Kavanagh’s astute assist having found him in a pocket of space.

Keena quickly doubled that lead when pulling a clearance out of the air to run on and rifle a stunning right-foot drive to the net from distance, adding to his other goal of the month contender in Galway last week.

It was all action now. Keena shot against the crossbar before Sligo snatched a goal back against the run of play on 41 minutes.

Jad Hakiki and Will Fitzgerald broke in a counter with the latter