Keena sets Sligo alight with scintillating hat-trick

Mullingar’s Aidan Keena made all the League of Ireland headlines tonight with a stunning hat-trick for Sligo Rovers in their 3-1 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division win over Finn Harps at The Showgrounds.

Rovers now lie in second with a game in hand, as their rich vein of early season continues, and tonight, Keena gave the Sligo faithful a taste of what he’s capable of.

The former Mullingar Athletic clubman put his side in front after 13 minutes with a right-footed bullet from the edge of the area, and doubled the lead shortly before half-time with a neat turn and finish from a Karl O’Sullivan cross.

Keena, who joined Sligo from Scottish club Falkirk in the January transfer window, put the gloss on a superb display with the third goal two minutes after the restart, latching onto Niall Morahan’s volley over the top and driving the ball home with his left foot.

He had a chance for his fourth on the hour mark, but missed, and while Finn Harps pulled one back thanks to sub Luke Rudden, the post-match talk was all about Sligo’s new no. 9.

Keena was substituted in the 74th minute, with manager Liam Buckley hoping to keep him fresh for Rovers’ visit to Tallaght Stadium on Friday night, where they take on league champions Shamrock Rovers.

The former Hearts striker’s last goal was on Sligo’s opening day of the season against his old club St Patrick’s Athletic, and he now has four goals in five starts for the Bit O’ Red.