League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 -1 Sligo Rovers

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers were made work hard for their 2-1 win against Sligo Rovers on Friday night.

Like last week against St. Patrick’s Athletic, Johnny Kenny and Trevor Clarke were on the scoresheet in each half but Greg Bolger’s goal for the Bit O’ Red made for a nervy enough finish for the Hoops.

The opening ten minutes saw both sides threaten their opponents goal in some lively exchanges.

Former Sligo Rovers player Kenny caused plenty of problems for the visitors. Eanna Clancy had to be on his toes to stop Kenny getting onto a Lee Grace ball in the box and soon after the striker got his head on a Jack Byrne cross but couldn’t direct on target.

Grace had set Kenny up for his goal against St. Patrick’s Athletic last week and he stepped out from the Hoops back three on a number of occasions to take the ball forward very effectively.

It was Alan Mannus who needed to make the first save of the match – getting his body behind a Kailin Barlow shot from distance. The Bit O’ Red were looking for a penalty when Frank Livak went down in the box only for referee Damien MacGrath to wave away their protests.

When Pico Lopes beat Max Mata to a header on half-way, the ball fell to Barlow who arrowed towards goal. He really should have sent it left to Will Fitzgerald who was free but he took on a shot that only resulted in a corner.

There was scare for the away side on 16 minutes when ex-Hoop Greg Bolger did well to block Graham Burke’s shot off a Neil Farrugia pull back. However, the Hoops had the lead within three minutes with Kenny grabbing the opening goal.

He raced onto a ball over the top from Markus Poom and showed a clean pair of heals and some strength to hold off Nando Pijnaker. He set himself before slotting it with his right foot by Luke McNicholas for his fourth of the season.

The 19-year-old against his former club didn’t wheel away in front of the away fans in the East Stand but it was a more subtle celebration by the striker who accepted a few high fives from his teammates before jogging back for the tip off.

Stephen Bradley’s side didn’t push on after the goal though and it was Sligo Rovers who looked the more threatening team before the break. They pressed the Hoops hard and moved the ball quickly when they had it.

Niall Morahan, playing alongside Bolger in front of the Bit O’ Red’s back four, looked to take the ball on when he could and his well struck shot took a touch to earn a corner.

The league’s top scorer Mata got a sight of goal but his shot, under Grace’s foot, was too weak and didn’t bother Mannus. The New Zealand fizzed an effort from outside the box just by the frame of the Hoops goal much to the relief of the green and white clad supporters in the South Stand.

After the break Sligo Rovers kept the pressure on with Johan Brannefalk forcing a save off Mannus when the Swede let fly from distance. Bradley brought on Richie Towell in place of Poom just before the hour mark as he looked to get his team going after a lacklustre start to the second half.

Towell’s volley soon after was well saved by McNicholas after the ball came to the Hoops sub when the keeper punched Jack Byrne’s corner clear on the hour mark.

Four minutes later the Hoops doubled their lead with a quick counter attack. Gary O’Neill feed Byrne who bisected the Bit O’ Red defence with a through ball to send Clarke clear. His low shot beat McNicholas.

However, the two goal lead didn’t last as in the 69^th minute as Bolger picked up a Livak pass and his shot from outside the box clipped Lopes’ heals to beat Mannus.

Sligo Rovers lost Bolger to injury soon after and lost their momentum. Mata’s header off a Stefan Radosavljevic corner went just over the bar late on as they Sligo Rovers put late pressure on the home side.

However, the Hoops were resolute in their defending and were able to see out the game unlike in the opening night of the season when they conceded an injury time equaliser.

The win means Shamrock Rovers have earned 16 points from the last 18 on offer. They  remain in third place a point behind Derry City but now only four off table toppers Bohemians who drew with bottom side UCD.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Daniel Cleary, Pico Lopes, Lee Grace; Trevor Clarke, Gary O'Neill, Markus Poom (Richie Towell 57), Neil Farrugia; Graham Burke (Darragh Nugent 83), Johnny Kenny, Jack Byrne.
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Sean Hoare, Gideon Tetteh, Justin Ferizaj, Conan Noonan, Aaron Greene, Raj Nazi
Booked: Johnny Kenny (60), Richie Towell (89).

Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk (David Cawley 78), Éanna Clancy (Daniel Lafferty 66), Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning 78), Niall Morahan; Frank Liivak, Kailin Barlow (Stefan Radosavljevic 59), William Fitzgerald; Max Mata.
Subs not used: John Vahey, Richard Brush, Owen Elding, Eli Rooney.
Booked: Stefan Radosavljevic (85).

Referee: Damien MacGraith.
Attendance: 5,512
extratime.com Player of the Match: Gary O’Neill (Shamrock Rovers)

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