League Report: Shelbourne 0 - 2 Sligo Rovers

Aidan Keena

Aidan Keena scored Sligo's second goal of the game against Shelbourne on Friday night. Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Paul Corcoran reports from Tolka Park

Sligo Rovers secured a second straight win when they ran out 2-0 winners over Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night.

Goals from Frank Liivak and Aidan Keena were enough to give John Russell’s men the three points.

Damien Duff named three changes to his Shelbourne squad with Luke Byrne and Brian McManus missing out, while Conor Kane has been confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season after picking up an injury in last week’s game against Dundalk.

John Ross Wilson, Aaron O’Driscoll and Sean Boyd started in place of the trio.

For the visitors, Cameron Evans and William Fitzgerald dropped to the bench with Shane Blaney and Adam McDonnell taking their place.

The home side were busy in the opening ten minutes with Matty Smith’s trickery getting them in on goal more than once.

In the fourth minute he raced forward before squaring the ball to Jack Moylan in the box – he flicked the shot toward goal, and it looked like they may have had a shout for a hand ball, but referee John McLoughlin waved away their protests.

A minute later Sligo’s Nando Pijnaker failed to clear a dangerous ball from Smith, Shane Farrell pounced on the loose ball before firing a shot across goal and narrowly wide.

In the ninth minute Aodh Dervin took a turn at playmaking, this time he sprayed a ball out wide to Moylan who nudged the ball through to Sean Boyd, the forward failed to keep his shot on target as the ball trundled just wide of the post.



Despite having the best chances, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 23rd minute. A long searching ball from the defence found Frank Liivack on the halfway line, he took the ball deep into Shelbourne territory and managed to hold off the challenge of Aaron O’Driscoll along the way before putting the ball beyond the reaches of Brendan Clarke for the lead.

The Reds very nearly fought back with a goal almost immediately when John Ross Wilson drilled a ball across the box two minutes later, Boyd pulled off a great diving header but again the striker failed to find the target.

Rovers almost doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Liivack played an excellent through ball to Max Mata inside the box, the striker tried to flick the ball over the onrushing Clarke, but the goalkeeper got his fingertips to the ball to deny the visitors.

A wayward pass by Shelbourne’s Shane Griffin allowed the visitors in on goal to double their lead. It was Aidan Keena who robbed the ball and raced in unopposed on goal before rattling the ball into the net.

John Ross Wilson had a chance to pull a goal back for the home side in the 73rd minute when he took a shot on from the edge of the box, his low drilled effort was saved well by Luke McNicholas.

Farrell then went close ten minutes later when a dangerous ball was sent into the box, the midfielder was at a tight angle and could only hit the woodwork.



Rovers came close to adding a third in injury time when Patrick Kirk squared a ball into the path of second half substitute Kailin Barlow, he struck a good shot on goal, but Clarke pulled off another good save.

Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; Shane Griffin, Gavin Molloy, Aaron O'Driscoll, John Ross Wilson (Josh Giurgi, 82); Aodh Dervin (Brian McManus, 59), Shane Farrell, JJ Lunney (Mark Coyle, 82), Jack Moylan (Gavin Hodgins, 73); Sean Boyd (Daniel Carr, 73), Matty Smith.

Subs not used: Scott Van der Sluis, Stephen Negru, Lewis Temple, Jad Hakiki.

Booked: Gavin Molloy (1), Aaron O’Driscoll (60), Shane Farrell (69), Brian McManus (77).

Sent off: None.

Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Lewis Banks, Shane Blaney, Patrick Kirk, Nando Pijnaker (Colm Horgan, HT); Greg Bolger, Robbie Burton, Frank Liivak (Kailin Barlow 78), Adam McDonnell (Niall Morahan, 80); Aidan Keena, Max Mata (William Fitzgerald, 63).

Subs not used: Conor Walsh, Richard Brush, Cameron Evans, Éanna Clancy, David Cawley.

Booked: Greg Bolger (79), Robert Burton (95).

Sent off: None.

Referee: John Mcloughlin.

Attendance:

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About Paul Corcoran

Paul Corcoran is an experienced writer and journalist and has contributed to various publications including the Galway United match programme Maroon View. He spends much of his time covering the fortunes of Galway United's teams … View Full Profile