League Report: Sligo Rovers 1 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
Alan Mannus was an important figure for Shamrock Rovers as they opened the 2023 league season with a point at The Showgrounds Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)
Lukas Browning’s late leveller cancelled out Graham Burke’s opener and earned a point for Sligo Rovers in a pulsating season opener as league champions Shamrock Rovers visited The Showgrounds on Saturday night.
The home side selected by John Russell had a freshness about it with former Academy youngsters Eanna Clancy and Kailin Barlow lining up alongside a trio of debutants for the Bit O’Red. Drogheda born Browning, Swede Johann Brannefalk and English defender Reece Hutchinson. Four new recruits took their place on the bench alongside Fabrice Hartmann, named in a Sligo squad for the first time since his 2022 arrival at the club, and the returning John Mahon.
For Stephen Bradley’s outfit, the only new arrival in a Hoops jersey was Estonian international Markus Poom. The son of legendary goalkeeper Mart wasn’t the only starter not to have featured for the Tallaght outfit in 2022, however, as ex Hoop Trevor Clarke returned for 2023 on loan from Bristol Rovers.
The visitors were the first to test a goalkeeper with home netminder Luke McNicholas denying Neil Farrugia in the opening couple of minutes. After that, it was his opposite number, the Canadian born former Northern Irish international Alan Mannus, who saw more of the action with Max Mata and Will Fitzgerald both denied by the reigning League of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year.
With the half hour mark approaching it was another Hoop with international caps who made his mark on the contest, Graham Burke drifting in off the left wing to fire a low effort beyond McNicholas and into the side netting to open the Dublin side’s account for the season.
Indeed, the aforementioned Clarke almost added to their total but his effort flew narrowly wide of McNicholas’ woodwork. New Zealander Mata came closest for the Bit O’ Red shortly after but, once again, Mannus preserved his clean sheet as the visitors then began to dominate the latter end of the opening period.
A flurry of substitutions dominated the start of the second half with loanee Hartmann replacing Liivak on the flank and Stephen Bradley unleashing the trio of ex Sligo player Johnny Kenny, Liam Burt and Darragh Nugent. However, within five minutes of their arrival their plans needed to be changed as skipper Lopes received his marching orders after an exchange with Kailin Barlow.
Down to ten men, the primary focus for the visitors was a preservation of the potential three points and they almost conceded within minutes but Barlow’s effort rebounded off the post and Shamrock Rovers survived, but only just.
Indeed, once more they were indebted to Mannus as he appeared to deflect away a Will Fitzgerald attempt as the minutes ticked down and the league champions for the past three seasons looked destined for another clean sheet and a precious three points to kick off the campaign.
Swede Browning had other ideas however and, after Shamrock Rovers failed to properly clear a corner, the Swede took aim from the edge of the box and his effort thundered beyond a crowd of bodies to rattle the back of the net and send the home crowd into raptures to celebrate an equaliser which had been threatened on a number of occasions shortly beforehand.
The battle of the Rovers ended in an enthralling draw at the Showgrounds - both sides can take plenty of positives on the opening weekend of what is potentially an exciting season to come.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk, Éanna Clancy, Reece Hutchinson, Nando Pijnaker; Kailin Barlow, Greg Bolger (Stefan Radosavljevic 75), Lukas Browning, William Fitzgerald, Frank Liivak (Fabrice Hartmann 60); Max Mata.
Subs not used: Richard Brush, James Finnerty, Daniel Lafferty, John Mahon, David Cawley, Sean McAteer, Karl O'Sullivan.
Booked: Éanna Clancy (65), Kailin Barlow (68), Lukas Browning (76).
Sent off: None.
Shamrock Rovers:Alan Mannus; Daniel Cleary, Lee Grace, Pico; Graham Burke (Darragh Nugent 64), Jack Byrne (Richie Towell 79), Trevor Clarke (Johnny Kenny 63), Neil Farrugia, Markus Poom, Dylan Watts (Gary O'Neill 80); Rory Gaffney (Liam Burt 64).
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Kieran Cruise, Simon Power, Aaron Greene.
Booked: Lee Grace (23), Richie Towell (67), Dylan Watts (79), Neil Farrugia (88), Alan Mannus (90).
Sent off: Pico (67).
Referee: Damien MacGraith.
Attendance: 4248
extratime.com Player of the Match: Nando Pijnaker
