Sligo Rovers extended their astonishingly poor home record with a 2-1 defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic at The Showgrounds tonight. After putting a serious dent in Cork City's title hopes with a 2-1 win of their own in Turners Cross two weeks ago, Rovers found themselves undone by the unlikeliest of sources tonight; the St. Pats 'keeper, Brendan Clarke.
Taking a 1-0 lead through Jake Keegan at the half-hour mark, St. Pats were pegged back when Rovers' Mickey Drennan leveled proceedings just before half-time.
Approaching the hour mark, with the sides still deadlocked, St. Pats were awarded a penalty. With Achille Campion looking set to take the spot-kick, Brendan Clarke, the team's 'keeper, made a darting run from his own box to try his own look against his opposite number.
Brendan Clarke just hung a penalty against us. #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld pic.twitter.com/DjdGelzmDd
— Stephen Healy (@stephenhealy87) September 15, 2018
A somewhat bizarre scene, he duly converted the effort.
2-1 Saints!! Penalty converted by Brendan Clarke. That’s not a typo. Goalkeeper Brendan Clarke has brilliantlh converted the penalty
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) September 15, 2018
Naturally enough, many were left perplexed at what had occurred. Some praised the ludicrous nature of it all, while others wondered why he possibly thought it was the right thing to do there and then.
I'll see your Stephen Cluxton and raise you Brendan Clarke. #SuperSaints
— Ronan O'Flaherty (@ronanoflaherty) September 15, 2018
How and why did Brendan Clarke score a peno? ahahahahahah so many questions
— Adam 🏳️⚧️ (@adamkanee) September 15, 2018
If #BrendanClarke isn't trending tonight, I'm giving up Twitter. @BrenClarke1 #Greatestleagueintheworld
— Con Murphy (@ConMurphySport) September 15, 2018
If this particular account is right, it is something of an odd landmark on top of everything else.
Could be wrong but I’m pretty sure Brendan Clarke is the first keeper in Pat’s history to score for us, in a competitive game at least. 👐🔴⚪️ https://t.co/ceuFEBeHqx
— St Patrick’s Athletic History (@HistoryStPats) September 15, 2018
