Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 1:THE HARD work having been done at the Showgrounds last week, Shamrock Rovers never looked in much danger of failing to book their place in the decider against Dundalk on May 14th.
Even the concession of Eoin Doyle’s early lead for the visitors couldn’t faze Michael O’Neill’s team as goals from Karl Sheppard and Billy Dennehy ensured an encouraging third win of the season over the side regarded as their main rivals this year.
Though 2-0 up from the first leg, O’Neill made just one change from the sides that had started the last two games. Gary O’Neill, a doubt beforehand with a calf strain, being passed fit greatly helped as Dennehy came in on the left of their attack for Dean Kelly.
Sligo’s selection looked scarcely optimistic as Paul Cook rested captain Richie Ryan to the bench along with Raffaele Cretaro and John Dillon, with Mark McGoldrick making his first start up front. It was an attacking, if inexperienced, 4-2-4 line-up which reaped the dividend of a goal after three minutes. Alan Keane did well near the corner flag to win a throw-in which he took. The right back got the ball back from Daryl Horgan to put in an early cross for Doyle to head home.
However, Shamrock Rovers were level within five minutes. Brendan Clarke initially got his defence out of jail with a save from Dennehy’s shot from Ronan Finn’s ball into the area. But Clarke was helpless when those in front of him let him down again. Dennehy’s cross wasn’t cleared and Sheppard found the roof of the net with a crisp shot from 14 yards.
The woodwork then came to Sligo’s rescue minutes later when Finn’s low drive shaved Clarke’s right-hand post. Finn was the instigator as the home side took the lead on the night by the 25th minute. Sheppard picked out Finn in the box and he showed good feet to pull the ball back for Dennehy to side-foot home.
It might have been 3-1 just past the half hour, but O’Neill’s weak shot was comfortable for Clarke.
Sligo needed a response before half-time and would have got it on 36 minutes, but for a tip-over save from Alan Mannus as Doyle was again allowed acres of room to get in a header from Aaron Greene’s left flank delivery. Mannus would produce an even better stop 12 minutes into the second half to turn Greene’s shot round a post.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens; Rice, Finn, McCormack (McCabe, 64); Sheppard, O’Neill (Kelly, 70), Dennehy (Kavanagh, 80).
SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Keane, Peers, Foran, Davoren; Ventre (Ryan, 69), Ndo; Horgan (Kirby, 76), McGoldrick (Cretaro, half-time), Doyle, Greene.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast).
