Leavy goal seals victory of narrow margins for Pats against Sligo

League of Ireland Premier Division: St Patrick's Ath 1 Sligo Rovers 0

In front of their lowest crowd of the season, St Pat’s teed up their largest on Friday as Kian Leavy’s first goal of the season turned the visit of Shamrock Rovers into a blockbuster.

Jon Daly’s side can go level with the four-in-a-row chasing Hoops in the televised encounter, albeit the champions have three games, rather than their two, left.

Cork City also had skin in the game, with Sligo’s failure to record victory presenting the slightest of hopes it is they, rather than the Rebel Army, who must navigate a playoff to avoid relegation.

Neither scenario is likely but at least maintains jeopardy in the final lap. Stephen Bradley was at Inchicore to see what confronts them on Friday. Win and another crown is theirs - the first team to claim four on the trot since their 1980s version.

This is the stage of the season when the tight 10-team format delivers benefits.

Both teams had something to play for; St Pat’s retention of European football and the slightest of squeaks at deposing the champions whereas it was the opposite fate facing the visitors.

Only for back-to-back wins for Sligo six days apart last month against UCD and Derry City, John Russell’s side would be fighting for their lives heading into the final stretch.

They came after four straight defeats and before another three reverses.

They couldn’t crib about this latest loss, for their shaky defence was always liable to be punished by a Saints attack adept at exploiting gaps.

A team of Sligo’s talent should be nowhere near the pickle they find themselves in.

Handing former player Russell the reins last year was designed to ease the stagnation that had set in but if anything they’ve