Sligo Rovers secured their first league win in seven games, as goals from new arrivals Eoin Doyle and Matthew Blinkhorn saw them defeat St Pat’s.

Doyle fired home the opener just 18 minutes into his debut after being set-up by Conor O’Grady.

And striker Blinkhorn doubled the lead on the hour-mark with his first goal for the club in just his second start.

The visitors made two enforced changes from the team that started in Malta midweek, with Damien Lynch and Alan Cawley coming in for the suspended Jason Gavin and Enda Stevens.

The Sligo XI showed six changes from the team beaten by Shamrock Rovers last time out, with two new additions – Joe Kendrick and Doyle - handed starts.

And Doyle immediately endeared himself to the Bit O’ Red faithful by racing onto Conor O’Grady’s flick and curling a beautiful shot past the helpless Gary Rogers.

Rovers enjoyed dominance in the opening period against a Pat’s side that looked tired from their European exploits.

But the Dubliners did create one other decent chance of note in the opening period, with Stephen Maher’s cross headed across goal and wide by Declan O’Brien.

Rovers’ Romuald Boco, who started at right-back, created the first moment of excitement in the second half, as he intercepted a pass at the edge of the area and raced upfield, but the move broke down.

But Rovers did claim a second just before the hour-mark, when Morrison’s trickery picked out Boco’s run, and the Benin international teed-up Blinkhorn to score his first goal for the club.

Cawley saw a left-foot shot blocked by Keane and a free-kick saved by Brush, before Rovers assistant boss Gerry Carr and Pat’s goalkeeping coach Jody Byrne were send to the stands for clashing on the sideline.

Rovers substitute Rob Turner, booked less than 30 seconds after his introduction, almost claimed a third for the home side when he directed Dean Marshall’s pass onto the crossbar, but, nevertheless, Rovers deservedly jumped to eighth in the table.

Sligo: Brush, Boco, Keane, Ventre, Kendrick, Morrison (Marshall 75), O’Grady, McGrath, Doyle, Cretaro, Blinkhorn (Turner 85).
Subs not used: Devaney, Noctor, Chris Kelly.

St Pat’s: Rogers, Maher (Fitzpatrick 58), Harris, Lynch, D Ryan, Partridge, Byrne (B Ryan 73), Cawley, O’Connor, O’Brien, Guy.
Subs not used: Haverty, Clarke, Leech.

Ref: P Tuite.