Michael Holt grabbed the vital goal for a makeshift St Patrick's Athletic at the Showgrounds last night as the League Cup champions began the defence of their title with a straightforward work-out against First Division Sligo Rovers.
Holt's goal came in the 56th minute, when the Englishman tapped in from close range after Kevin Doyle had intercepted an attempted clearance by Sligo 'keeper Danny O'Leary. O'Leary saved the First Division outfit in the first half, producing some fine saves including an excellent save from Sean Mannion’s penalty on 13 minutes as the Saints had most of the possession.
Notably the Saints fielded a much changed side, giving starts to second choice players such as Jamie Harris, Holt, McGuinness, Mannion, Gallagher, McCarthy and Kevin Doyle. Willie Burke also returned to first team action, his first appearance since a shoulder injury sustained in the home win against Shamrock Rovers.
Inthenet.ie reported that there was a "bumper crowd" at the Showgrounds, proving once again that even a second string Saints side in a League Cup game is a bigger draw for country teams than our smaller Dublin rivals such as Dublin City, Rovers and Bohs. It's just a pity that the late fixture change ensured that there wasn't a full contingent of travelling Saints fans at this game.
Sligo Rovers: O'Leary, Rossiter, Lally, Hutchison, Gaffney, Cretaro, Dolan, Flannery, O'Dowd, O'Donoghue. Subs: Jordan for O'Dowd (69 mins); Moran for Gaffney (77 mins).
St Patrick's Athletic: Gallagher, Crolly, Burke, Foley, Harris, Mannion, McGuinnes, Griffin, K Doyle, Holt, McCarthy. Subs: G Doyle for Holt (77 mins); Mahony for McGuinness (83 mins).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone)
