SLIGO ROVERS moved two points clear at the top of the Premier Division after a scoreless draw by St Pat’s in front of 2,750 fans at the Showgrounds.

Half-chances were the best that either side could manage on the night, as two well organised defences stood strong in an edgy battle.

Rovers settled into the game quicker thanks to some superb skill from Joseph Ndo, whose expert pass almost fashioned an opening for Eoin Doyle in the opening minutes.

Doyle had an even better chance midway through the half when he raced onto Alan Kirby’s through-ball on the counter attack, but Derek Pender got back to make a vital block.

At the other end, Jason McGuinness had to produce an equally important tackle to deny Daryl Kavanagh, while Danny North had a great chance just before the break when he was released by Anto Murphy’s pass but could only find the side-netting.

The second half continued along similar lines, with the best chance falling to Kirby shortly after the hour-mark.

He was teed up inside the area by Aaron Greene and substitute John Dillon, but his curling shot narrowly missed the top corner.
 
SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Greene, Ryan, Ndo, Kirby (Russell 77), Cretaro (Dillon 60), Doyle, Blinkhorn (Powell 60).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers, Pender, Kenna (Shortall 68), Guthrie, Bermingham, Murphy (D McMillan 70), McFaul, Bradley, Mulcahy, Kavanagh (Daly 76), North.

REFEREE: D Hancock.