St Patrick's Athletic manager Jon Daly admitted it will be difficult to mount a challenge for the title after their 2-1 home loss to Drogheda United last night.
The hosts were undone by Dayle Rooney's goal of the season contender with 10 minutes remaining, ultimately finishing the game with nine men, Sam Curtis being banished for a dangerous high challenge after Jake Mulraney had received two yellows earlier in the half.
The result means the Saints missed a chance to narrow the gap at the top to three points and they remain six adrift with five games remaining, though they face league leaders Shamrock Rovers at home in the penultimate game of the season.
While conceding that winning the league may be a tall order, Daly said that Pat's still have a European spot in their grabs and have a chance to claim a second FAI Cup win in three years, with their upcoming semi-final away to Cork City.
"We're still in a positive position," Daly told LOI TV afterwards. "Yes, you look at the league now and you think it's going to be very difficult to challenge for the top spot.
"But we're still in a very good position for European spots that we're looking to get into. We're still in a Cup semi-final. We'll feel the disappointment of this result but we need to focus and pick ourselves back up.
"We still have a lot to play for between now and the end of the season."
📽️ | THAT. IS. OUTRAGEOUS.
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) September 25, 2023
Dayle Rooney leaves it late to submit his Goal of the Month (Season) contender!#LOI | #PATDRO pic.twitter.com/gBa7KWxL3c
The match itself finished in somewhat contentious fashion, Chris Forrester being adjudged to have dived in the box, when replays clearly indicate he was brought down.
From the resulting free, a frustrated Curtis became the second Pat's player to see red.
"To be fair to Dayle Rooney, he's pulled out an unbelievable strike. It's probably one of the best volleys that you're going to see.
"When you go down to 10 men, it's always going to be difficult. I didn't think it was two yellows, if I'm being honest. I was probably more frustrated with the penalty decision on Chris that we didn't get. Off the back of that, that free kick goes forward, we win the first contact and Sam gets sent off.
"It should have been a penalty and we could have been 2-2, pushing forward to get the next goal."
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