The impact of half-time sub Shane Farrell was key as Shelbourne turned around a deficit with two second-half goals to secure a much-needed victory over Sligo Rovers in Tolka Park this evening.

Matty Smith and a calamitous own goal from John Mahon overturned a Danny Lafferty effort in the first half to leave Damien Duff the happier of the two managers.

The opening stages of the game was fast-paced as Shels looked to take the lead in the opening minutes but despite some excellent attacking play could not seem to find that final pass to unlock the Sligo defence early on.

As time went on Sligo grew into the game and were the better side in the first half. A couple of chances including a Fitzgerald effort that crashed off the bar and a Mahon header that forced Kearns into a big save were evidence of this.

The away side took the lead with just under ten minutes to go before the break. It was Danny Lafferty that rose highest from a well delivered corner and Lafferty powered the header towards Kearns but the pace on the ball left a difficult task for the Shels shot-stopper to keep out. A well deserved lead for Sligo at this stage of the fixture.

The game was proving to be feisty with Mahon and Liivak along with Smith and Lunney all picking up first-half yellow cards for cynical tackles and skirmishes.

Moylan did have an effort off his right foot as the clock ticked into the red but his shot sailed just past the post.

Sligo looked to put their opponents to bed with the remaining moments of the half and really pinned Shels back who were forced to abandon playing out from the back due to multiple turnovers. Shels managed to defend a succession of corners as John Russell would be feeling a little disappointed going in with just a one-goal lead at the break.

Damien Duff rang the changes unleashing some of his exciting young options from the bench in the form of Evan Caffrey, Shane Farrell and Jad Hakiki and it had an almost immediate effect on the side creating a few opportunities for the home side in the opening minutes.

Farrell battled for the ball with Will Fitzgerald on the edge of the Sligo box and whipped in a cross to the back post. Stand in right back Liivak misjudged the flight of the ball and the ball fell to Matty Smith who took a great touch and fired past McNicholas to level the scores.

Minutes later Farrell played a long diagonal ball but Sligo’s defence made a meal of it. There was a mis communication between John Mahon and McNicholas in goal as the centre back nodded it back towards his keeper but the Mayo man slipped and the ball rolled into the back of the net to put the home side ahead.

Russell ran some changes of his own with twenty minutes left and two of them, Clancy and Barlow, combined to create a chance for the visitors as a lovely through ball from the central defender found his team mate on the edge of the box. His effort was directly down the throat of Kearns.

Sligo Rovers dominated most of the closing stages but just couldn’t find a way through the organised home side’s rearguard as Shelboune leapfrogged over their opponents with this significant result for the Reds.

Jack Moylan had an opportunity to double the home sides advantage but a fabulous diving challenge from New Zealand international Nando Pinajker twarts his effort but John Russell had more bad news as Eanna Clancy appeared to pull a hamstring in the closing stages to add to his injury woes in defence.

Damien Duff on the other hand will be delighted as his Shelboune side leapfrogged over their opponents with this significant result for the Reds.