Sligo Rovers 3, Derry City 1: Ten-man Derry City were shocked by goal-hungry Sligo Rovers in this action-packed game at the Showgrounds last night.

Derry were dealt a major blow in the 17th minute when Gareth McLynn who came on for the injured Pat McCourt in the 11th minute, received a straight red card for a heavy tackle on a Sligo player.

Derry played below their best although they did step up a gear in the final quarter with substitute Kevin McHugh adding more bite up front.

Sligo went in front in the seventh minute with Paul McTiernan blasting Conor O'Grady's accurate long ball to the Derry net.

Sligo had a chance to double their advantage in the 34th minute when Darren Mansaram crossed to McTiernan who ballooned the ball yards wide.

Mark McChrystal was only inches wide from a Derry free kick in the 37th minute but the visitors were now beginning to get the measure of their opponents.

Derry made the breakthrough their first half efforts deserved when Killian Brennan sent a 30- yard piledriver past the Sligo keeper a minute before half-time.

Keith Foy put Rovers back in front with a superb strike from a free kick on the edge of the box in the 58th minute and McTiernan scored his second goal after 67 minutes with a close-range strike from Keith Foy's clever cross.

SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara, Peers, Foy, McNamara, Burns, O'Grady, Hughes, Kudozovic, McTiernan, Mansaram, Turner. Subs: Curran for Kudozovic (61 mins); Flannery for McTiernan (86 mins).

DERRY CITY: Forde, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, Martyn, Beckett, Brennan, Molloy, Farren, McChrystal, McCourt. Subs: McGlynn for McCourt (11 mins); McHugh for Farren (68 mins); Higgins for Hargan (68 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).