Castlebar Celtic 0 - 7 Sligo Rovers
Credit:
Sligo Rovers continued their build up to the new Airtricity League season with a 7-0 demolition of A Championship side Castlebar Celtic at Castlebar Celtic Park. Rovers started the game with three changes from the win over Salthill last Saturday. New signings Aaron Greene and Alan Kirby took their places in midfield, while a late withdrawal due to the injury of Jason McGuinness gave Derek Foran an opportunity at the heart of the Rovers defence.
Although throughout the game Rovers had a clear superiority over Castlebar, it was the Mayo side who had the first chance, with a cross from former Rovers winger Steven Gavin bouncing onto Ciaran Kelly's crossbar. On seven minutes Greene had a chance for his first goal for his new club. Gavin Peers playing the ball out from defence, found John Russell who turned at pace to feed Eoin Doyle down the right. Doyle's cross was met by the head of Greene, but he failed to hit the target.
Rovers opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Alan Kirby's clever free kick left Eoin Doyle with a simple finish past Castlebar keeper Kevin Stenson. Three minutes later Russell made it two as he played a one two with Doyle and fired the ball past Stenson. Trialist goalkeeper Brendan Clarke also made an appearance shortly after the second goal in place of Ciaran Kelly.
Derek Foran could have made it three on the 25 minute mark as he rose at the back post to meet a Richie Ryan cross, but his header was off-target. Ryan also had a 30 yard shot palmed away by Stenson soon after, as Rovers kept up the pressure.
Paul Cook took half time as an opportunity to empty his bench introducing John Dillon, Raffaele Cretaro, Daryl Horgan, Mark McGoldrick and Danny Ventre.
It didn't take the new look Rovers side long to find their form as they scored three goals in the space of 15 minutes. Danny Ventre, Mark McGoldrick and John Dillon making it 5-0 before the hour.
Raffaele Cretaro made it six on the 74 minutes, placing the ball under the Castlebar keeper after being played through by McGoldrick.
McGoldrick got his second of the game seven minutes before the end after good work from Ventre and Horgan resulted in Horgan's cross being spilled by Stenson as Cretaro challenged him. The ball fell to McGoldrick at the back post who had the easiest of finishes to make it seven.
Sligo Rovers will face Cork City at Musgrave Park this coming Friday as they continue to prepare for the start of the new season.
Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly, (Brendan Clarke) Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Derek Foran, Iarfliath Davoren, Eoin Doyle (Daryl Horgan), John Russell (John Dillon), Richie Ryan, Alan Kirby (Danny Ventre), Aaron Greene (Mark McGoldrick), Matthew Blinkhorn (Raffaele Cretaro)
Castlebar Celtic Squad: Kevin Stenson, Robert Hennelly, Steven Ryan, Declan Flynn, James Minogue, Kieran Hopkins. James McGuaran, Alan McDonald, Ger O'Boyle, Andy Neary, Steve Gavin, Ronan O' Boyle, Sean McHale, Ollie Cunningham, Barry McLoughlin, Chris Rowland, Steven Jennings, Keith Hopkins, John Maloney, Tommy Reilly.
Although throughout the game Rovers had a clear superiority over Castlebar, it was the Mayo side who had the first chance, with a cross from former Rovers winger Steven Gavin bouncing onto Ciaran Kelly's crossbar. On seven minutes Greene had a chance for his first goal for his new club. Gavin Peers playing the ball out from defence, found John Russell who turned at pace to feed Eoin Doyle down the right. Doyle's cross was met by the head of Greene, but he failed to hit the target.
Rovers opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Alan Kirby's clever free kick left Eoin Doyle with a simple finish past Castlebar keeper Kevin Stenson. Three minutes later Russell made it two as he played a one two with Doyle and fired the ball past Stenson. Trialist goalkeeper Brendan Clarke also made an appearance shortly after the second goal in place of Ciaran Kelly.
Derek Foran could have made it three on the 25 minute mark as he rose at the back post to meet a Richie Ryan cross, but his header was off-target. Ryan also had a 30 yard shot palmed away by Stenson soon after, as Rovers kept up the pressure.
Paul Cook took half time as an opportunity to empty his bench introducing John Dillon, Raffaele Cretaro, Daryl Horgan, Mark McGoldrick and Danny Ventre.
It didn't take the new look Rovers side long to find their form as they scored three goals in the space of 15 minutes. Danny Ventre, Mark McGoldrick and John Dillon making it 5-0 before the hour.
Raffaele Cretaro made it six on the 74 minutes, placing the ball under the Castlebar keeper after being played through by McGoldrick.
McGoldrick got his second of the game seven minutes before the end after good work from Ventre and Horgan resulted in Horgan's cross being spilled by Stenson as Cretaro challenged him. The ball fell to McGoldrick at the back post who had the easiest of finishes to make it seven.
Sligo Rovers will face Cork City at Musgrave Park this coming Friday as they continue to prepare for the start of the new season.
Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly, (Brendan Clarke) Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Derek Foran, Iarfliath Davoren, Eoin Doyle (Daryl Horgan), John Russell (John Dillon), Richie Ryan, Alan Kirby (Danny Ventre), Aaron Greene (Mark McGoldrick), Matthew Blinkhorn (Raffaele Cretaro)
Castlebar Celtic Squad: Kevin Stenson, Robert Hennelly, Steven Ryan, Declan Flynn, James Minogue, Kieran Hopkins. James McGuaran, Alan McDonald, Ger O'Boyle, Andy Neary, Steve Gavin, Ronan O' Boyle, Sean McHale, Ollie Cunningham, Barry McLoughlin, Chris Rowland, Steven Jennings, Keith Hopkins, John Maloney, Tommy Reilly.
