Pat's overcome Sligo to narrow gap to three at the top

FAI Cup finalists St. Patrick's Athletic secured European football for next season with a huge win at home to struggling Sligo Rovers.

A first half cracker from Kian Leavy meant that, not only did the three points stay in Inchicore, but the victory also kept their faint title hopes alive ahead of Friday nights mouth-watering Dublin Derby with four-in-a-row chasing Shamrock Rovers - whose manager Stephen Bradley watched on keenly from the stands.

As Storm Babet battered the country 72-hours previously, the pair were fortunate to get on the pitch on Friday at all, Pat's dispatching city rivals Bohemians, while Sligo were beaten by Dundalk. The weather was barely any more hospital tonight as a powerful pre-game deluge battered Richmond Park.

Jon Daly somewhat surprisingly named the same starting side that triumphed in brutal conditions at Dalymount but his troops showed no signs of fatigue with a high tempo start.

Man-of-the-match Leavy was desperately unlucky to see his 25-yard thunderbolt narrowly miss the target with just a couple of minutes played.

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Ironically, Sligo Rovers' last victory on the road came in Inchicore back in May - a win that ended Tim Clancy’s tenure - and were hoping for a repeat performance to boost confidence following Friday night's reversal against the Lilywhite. They promptly hit back with a double chance of their own.

Dean Lyness continued his excellent form with an incredible stop to deny Fabrice Hartmann sharply with his feet. Moments later, Bit O’ Red skipper David Cawley was in the wrong place at the wrong time, accidentally blocking teammate Garry Buckley’s powerful downward header off the line.

The gloves were off as both sides went at each other. Conor Carty had the best