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Date Time League Season
1 October 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Hoops take Rovers bragging rights at the Showgrounds

Shamrock Rovers continued their challenge for the league title with a 3-1 win over Sligo Rovers this evening.

The Hoops were in control throughout the tie and deserved their three points this evening, Sligo unable to contain a lethal front three.

Goals by Daniel Cleary and Dylan Watts had them comfortable at the break before Graham Burke netted the third, Nando Pijnaker pulled a consolation back for Sligo minutes later.

The Dubliners began the half like they would play it for the remainder, in total control Jack Byrne had their first effort at goal after five minutes but he just could not set himself yards from the goal line, Rory Gaffney could have made it 1-0 minutes later but Richard Brush made a great save to deny Gaffney on his fourth start of the season.

It took just 15 minutes until the Bit O’Red’s defence was exploited, a clearance fell to Sean Kavanagh on the left-hand channel, his inviting cross was met by the head of Daniel Cleary, whose header flew into the back of the Sligo net.

Gaffney and Graham Burke came close to adding the second, but neither could find the mark. Watts created space after the half-hour mark but three red shirts swarmed him and a blocked effort was gathered by Brush.

Watts would find the net after Byrne was precise with a through ball that cut the Sligo defence open, Rovers turning defence into attack at the blink of an eye with Kavanagh again involved in the build-up play.

Appeals were made just before the break by Sligo for a handball in the Hoops area, Max Mata the man to strike at goal but the arm of Cleary looked to have struck the ball on its flightpath.

Into the second half Sligo continued to press but Pijnaker only found the chip van behind the goal as his effort was wayward. Burke came close to making it 3-0 but Brush saved well to keep it at 2-0.

Burke was unlucky with his chances, but a Gaffney cross after 70 minutes warranted him his goal, free at the back post to tap into an empty net.

Pijnaker did make it 3-1 after 74 minutes, he was on hand to convert from a Kailin Barlow freekick. Shamrock Rovers continued to press shortly after with Brush doing well to deny Watts just before the end of normal time.

Sligo Rovers

30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
3Colm Horgan Defender
4Shane Blaney Defender
6Greg Bolger 8 Midfielder 14'
9Aidan Keena Forward
10Frank Liivak 14 Forward
17Adam McDonnell 7 Midfielder
19Paddy Kirk Defender 82'
22David Cawley 18 Midfielder
27Max Mata 34 Forward
28Nando Pijnaker Defender 74'
31Conor Walsh Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
5Cameron Evans Defender
7Will Fitzgerald 17 Midfielder
8Niall Morahan 6 Midfielder 90+3'
11Seamas Keogh Defender
14Karl O’Sullivan 10 Forward
18Robbie Burton 22 Midfielder
34Kailin Barlow 27 Midfielder 75'

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
2Sean Gannon 3 Defender 72'
5Lee Grace Defender
6Daniel Cleary Defender 15'
7Dylan Watts Midfielder 38'
8Ronan Finn 23 Midfielder
10Graham Burke 9 Forward 70'
11Sean Kavanagh 22 Defender
16Gary O’Neill Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney Forward
29Jack Byrne 18 Midfielder 36'
25Leon Pohls Goalkeeper
3Sean Hoare 2 Defender
4Roberto Lopes Defender
9Aaron Greene 10 Forward
18Viktor Serdeniuk 29 Midfielder
21Justin Ferizaj Midfielder
22Andy Lyons 11 Defender 90+2'
23Neil Farrugia 8 Midfielder
38Aidomo Emakhu Midfielder
  • 94'

    Shamrock Rovers continued their exploits to go five clear atop the table, the title race is there's at this stage as they look to record a double

  • 93'

    Niall Morohan commits a foul on the edge of the area and is booked

  • 92'

    Andy Lyons booked for time wasting

  • 90'

    The fourth official signals five additional minutes

  • 89'

    Brush again denies the Hoops as Watts has an effort

  • 84'

    Neil Farrugia and Viktor Serdeniuk come on for Finn and Byrne

  • 82'

    Kirk goes into the notebook

  • 74'

    Barlow has a little confrontation and is carded

  • 74'

    Gannon is replaced by Sean Hoare

  • 74'

    Sligo pull one back as Pijnaker scores from a Barlow free kick

  • 72'

    Gannon is carded

  • 72'

    Karl O'Sullivan returns to action replacing Liivak

  • 71'

    The Hoops make a double change with Greene and Lyons replacing Burke and Kavanagh

  • 70'

    Burke jmust have heard me and makes it 3-0 with a finish at the back post, Gaffney turns provider with a great cross

  • 67'

    Burke again looks dangerous, but his effort is wide, the Hoops man is tormented the last week unable to score

  • 63'

    Treble change for Rovers with Kailin Barlow, Niall Morahan and Will Fitzgerald on for Max Mata, Greg Bolger and Adam McDonnell.

  • 60'

    Kirk strikes a shot but Gannon blocks it out for a corner

  • 57'

    Burke was through to make it 3-0 but Brush saves for a corner

  • 55'

    David Cawley was replaced by Robbie Burton at the break

  • 54'

    Pijnacker tries the spectacular and shoots from range but the target it hits is the chip van behind the goal

  • 46'

    Sligo kick us off ahead of a big second half

  • 47'

    Half Time at the Showgrounds as the Hoops are dominating the tie here, two goals have them looking comfortable to take three points back to the capital

  • 45'

    Two minutes of added time to end the half here as Rovers search for a third

  • 45'

    MASSIVE appeals for a handball as Max Mata looked to have found the chance to score, looked to have been Cleary\'s arm that blocks it, Rovers clear the lines

  • 38'

    Bryne booked, Kirk has a chance from the free kick that went straight at Mannus and then Byrne finds Watts for the second, all in the space of around 60 seconds

  • 38'

    Watts makes it 2-0, Kavanagh again in the build up but it's Jack Byrne that provides a deadly through ball the spilt the Sligo backline for Watts to get it and score

  • 36'

    Byrne shoves Bolger to the ground and earns himself a card, the Hoops support not liking that one as Bolger has not been a favourite for the Hoops fans tonight

  • 32'

    Watts breaks into the area and has three red shirts around him to prevent the Hoops man making it 2-0, his effort id deflected into the waiting arms of Brush

  • 27'

    Burke tries an effort into the area that curls to the left and wide, he was dangerous on Monday but again was missing the mark in that tie

  • 25'

    Byrne sends a corner into the waiting arms of Brush on his line, I am sure he will say that was not a shot from the corner

  • 20'

    Gaffney comes close to adding a second, but it drags to the left and hits the side netting, Rovers dominating the tie and deservedly lead.

  • 15'

    Cleary nods the visitors into an early lead in Sligo, Kavanagh with a beautiful ball into the area, the Rovers defender given space to roam and he punishes them

  • 14'

    First card of the evening is shown to Greg Bolger for a challenge in the middle of the park.

  • 12'

    Brush makes a great save to deny Gaffney on his fourth start of the season, Gaffney cuts in on his left foot and the keeper is big to deny the Hoops front man

  • 5'

    Byrne comes close after just five minutes, Gaffney and Kavanagh combine well to break into the area, but the ball just cannot set right for Byrne to shoot and Brush gathers

  • 1'

    The Hoops kick us off in the Showgrounds

  • A beautiful sunset paints the background ahead of kick off in 20 minutes time, a big game for the league leaders, they cannot afford slip ups with Derry breathing down their necks

  • The Hoops make one change for their 1-0 win on Monday, Ronan Finn comes in at RWB to replace goal scorer on Monday Neil Farrugia, he drops to the bench, Roberto Lopes is amongst the replacements, looking to make his comeback from injury

  • Sligo Rovers make four changes for their starting line-up this evening, the enforced injury to Luke McNicholas sees Richard Brush get the nod to guard the posts this evening, David Cawley comes in for Will Fitzgerald, Max Mata replaces Robbie Burton and Colm Horgan starts in defence ahead of Lewis Banks.

  • The title race in the SSE Airtricity league could take a dramatic twist this evening, if Sligo Rovers can take all three points and the "Rovers" bragging rights if they defeat Shamrock Rovers this evening, the Hoops desperate to keep Derry chasing them as the end of the season looms, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will bring you live text commentary from all of the action at the showgrounds this evening.

Past Meetings

(Round 23)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Round 13)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers

(Round 7)
2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Series 31)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Series 20)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 13)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Series 4)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers

(Semi Final)
2 - 0
FAI Cup
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Series 14)
4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers

(Series 5)
2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

5 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Sligo Rovers FC

Ground

The Showgrounds
The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.