SOCCER: Sligo Rovers 3 Derry City 0:DERRY CITY pressed the self-destruct button twice in as as many minutes at the start of the second half and finished the game with eight men as Sligo Rovers took the points in an amazing game at The Showgrounds.

The Candystripes were well in the game and had a real chance of avenging their defeat to Paul Cooke’s side at the Brandywell in March when seasoned campaigner Eddie McCallion was sent off after Raffaele Cretaro was brought down in the box with just four minutes of the half played.

Eoin Doyle stepped up to put the penalty kick away and worse was to follow for Stephen Kenny’s side when they were reduced to nine men in the 51st minute when Kevin Deery saw red for a second bookable offence.

Then it was the home side’s turn to have a player sent off when Gavin Peers got his marching orders, also for a second bookable offence, in the 54th minute.

Derry substitute David McDaid handled the ball in the box to give Doyle another chance from the spot and he blasted it past Gerard Doherty in the Derry goal to end the visitors’ hopes of joining Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table.

Substitute Alan Kirby bagged Sligo’s third in the 86th minute and Derry’s disastrous Bank Holiday ended with Emmet Friars receiving his marching orders two minutes into stoppage time.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Keane, Davoren, Peers, Ventre (Kirby 62), McGuinness, Ryan, Doyle, Cretaro (Greene 69), Ndo, Blinkhorn.

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Friars, S McEleney, Deery, P McEleney (McBrien 52), McLoughlin (McDaid h/t), Zayed (McCrudden 81), Lafferty, Higgins.

Referee: Richie Winters (Wicklow).