LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Sligo Rovers 1 Shamrock Rovers 2:SHAMROCK ROVERS powered to a valuable win over 10-man Sligo in a tense game at the Showgrounds last night.
An own goal by Sligo’s Alan Keane in the 54th minute squared the match before former Sligo player Chris Turner put the visitors ahead in the 61st minute.
Sligo had claims for a penalty turned down after 66 minutes when John Russell was impeded going through.
Sligo had a chance to open the scoring in the seventh minute when Eoin Doyle raced on to the ball following good play by Iarlaith Davoren and Richie Ryan but the pace of the ball beat Doyle over the end line.
A James Chambers corner caused some anxious moments for Sligo after 11 minutes but the danger was cleared.
Rovers’ Paddy Kavanagh missed a good chance to open the scoring for the visitors in the 20th minute when acres of space opened up in front of him but he shot wide with only goalkeeper Richard Brush to beat.
Michael O’Neill’s side had reason to regret the miss when Doyle headed Sligo in front three minutes later from a Joseph Ndo corner. The visitors missed another opportunity on 28 minutes when Chambers’ free-kick went narrowly wide.
Sligo were reduced to 10 men in the 37th minute when Gavin Peers was shown a straight red card for a crunching tackle on Billy dennehy.
SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Keane, Davoren, Peers,Ventre, Ryan, Dillon (Foran 38 mins), Russell, Ndo, Amond, Doyle (McEvilly 64 mins).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Sives, Price, Murray, Murphy (Stewart h-t), Kavanagh, Chambers, Turner, Bayly, Dennehy (Rice 76 mins), Twigg.
Referee: R Winters(Dublin).
FIRST DIVISION: Limerick 0, Waterford 0; Mervue Utd 1, Derry City 2; Monaghan Utd 3, Salthill Devon 0; Shelbourne 6, Athlone Town 3; Wexford Youths 3, Finn Harps 0.
