Video

Details

Date Time League Season
10 April 2021 6:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Shamrock Rovers grab late equaliser in Sligo

A game that looked destined for a scoreless draw sprung into life in its latter stages as the ‘Battle of the Rovers’ ended in a 1-all draw that upon reflection was a fair result.

Neither side could claim they did enough to win but Sligo would have believed the ‘Rub of the Green’ had gone their way. Liam Buckley will have questions to ask, however, of his side as to how with five minutes to go they couldn’t hold on to the lead.

For Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers they’ll wonder why it took to conceding a goal that saw them move up to that elusive fifth gear. The mark of Champions however its finding that gear at the right time, as Rory Gaffney’s late goal saved Alan Mannus’ mea culpa moment at the Showgrounds.

Graham Burke set out his stall early to test McGinty in the Sligo’s goal with a long-range effort that was well saved. Sligo Rovers tried to execute training ground set-pieces but the delivery failed them especially when they were in prominent positions.

Sean Kavanagh had a good chance from the edge of the Sligo area following a corner that was initially cleared by the ‘bit o red’ defence however his effort went wide.

The hosts best chance of the half fell to former Shamrock Rovers captain Greg Bolger who received the ball from a clever move from a corner that Figueria set up and his effort was brilliantly saved by Mannus. The second follow up saw Figueria tapped home from close range, but it was deemed offside.

Sean Hoare proficiency from set-pieces was one of the reasons why Shamrock Rovers sought his signature in the offseason went near to opening the scoring from close range after a Liam Scales corner was sent in but McGinty once again was equal to the effort. Robbie McCourt went close just before half time with a curling free-kick that went over the bar.
 
Shamrock Rovers had a penalty claim in the second half after Chris McCann went to ground in the area as he was taking a shot on McGinty, the meek claims for a penalty were all but waved away by the referee. Sligo Rovers sensing that Graham Burke was looking to create chances from distance closed him down at every opportunity, the striker had the ball fall to him on his left foot but Sligo was quick to shut out the angles and block the effort.

As the game etched towards a conclusion of the game of half-chances it sprung into life. The final ten minutes had more action and incident than the previous eighty and it started in somewhat embarrassing terms.

Sligo Rovers took the lead when Figueria hit a shot from the edge of the area; Mannus looked to have the shot covered, but either the pace of the ball or he wasn't alert enough meant the ball slipped under him and trickled into the net. As Figueria wheeled off to celebrated in what was a shot hit more in hope than expectation Mannus had the face of a man who wanted the ground to swallow him up.  

Shamrock Rovers clicked into a higher gear that is the mark of any great side and it only took a fantastic effort from Jordan Gibson to deny Gaffney that stopped an instant reply. Sean Gannon put in an excellent cross from a tight angle that fell to both Gaffney and Scales but Gibson and McGinty cleared the ball on the line to avert the danger.

This was a sign of things to come.

Gaffney didn’t wait long to get the second bite of the cherry as Shamrock Rovers drew level with just three minutes remaining. The second half substitute received the ball from Gannon who sent in a curling cross and the striker was given acres of space to turn and shoot but it took a deflection for it to get past McGinty who mistook the path of the ball.

Mannus’ blunder could have been the headline only for Rory Gaffney to save his blushes. But a true sign of champions is coming back and responding after conceding. Four games in and there is plenty left to play for; but one gets the feeling already that there won’t be a runaway leader this season. 

Sligo Rovers

1Ed McGinty Goalkeeper
3Colm Horgan Defender
5Robbie McCourt Defender
6Greg Bolger Midfielder 82'
7Jordan Gibson Forward 57'
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
10Walter Figueira Forward 82'
21John Mahon Defender
24Johnny Kenny 9 Forward
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
27Romeo Parkes Forward
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
9Ryan DeVries 24 Forward
12Mark Byrne Midfielder
14Shane Blaney Defender
19Regan Donelon Defender
20Darren Collins Forward
22David Cawley Midfielder
33Peter Maguire Defender

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
3Sean Hoare Defender
5Lee Grace Defender
7Dylan Watts Midfielder
8Ronan Finn 2 Midfielder
9Aaron Greene Forward
10Graham Burke 20 Forward
11Sean Kavanagh Defender
14Daniel Mandriou Midfielder
15Liam Scales Defender 82'
26Chris McCann Midfielder 33'
2Sean Gannon 8 Defender
4Roberto Lopes Defender
16Gary O’Neill Midfielder
19Dean Williams Forward
20Rory Gaffney 10 Forward 88'
22Darragh Nugent Midfielder
24Max Murphy Midfielder
25Leon Pohls Goalkeeper
  • 90'

    FULL TIME: Alan Mannus blunder could have been the headline only for Rory Gaffney to save their blushes. Sign of champions is that they came back and responded well after conceding. Ciaran Callan signing off from FinalWhistle HQ. Match Report to follow!

  • 90'

    Two added minutes.

  • 89'

    From the corner, the ball falls kindly to Parkes and in that position he really should do better.

  • 87'

    And Shamrock Rovers are level, Gaffney recieved the ball from Gannon and he was given acres of space to turn and shoot and it takes a deflection and its past McGinty.

  • 85'

    Fantastic effort from Jordan Gibson to deny Gaffney, Gannon did amazing to cross the ball from a tight angle and Gaffney and Scales had chances but Gibson and McGinty clears the ball.

  • 83'

    Scales was also involved with Bolger and gets a yellow card for his troubles.

  • 83'

    For a scuffle in the box Bolger is cautioned.

  • 81'

    Sligo are in the lead! Walter Figueria hits a shot from the edge of the area, Mannus however wasn't alert enough to the ball and its slipped under him and trickled into the net.

  • 77'

    Gaffney comes on to the game and will go into an attacking position.

  • 77'

    Finn has been replaced by Gannon and comes off.

  • 77'

    Sean Gannon has arrived into the game.

  • 77'

    He will feel unlucky not to have scored today.

  • 73'

    The ball falls to Burke on his left foot but Sligo close down the play very quickly and block the shot.

  • 65'

    DeVries cross coming into Parkes buts it's gone out for a corner. The corner was short and was wasted very poorly as they decided to play it short and in doing so lose the ball.

  • 57'

    McCann goes to ground in the area after taking a shot, meek penalty claims but the referee waves them away.

  • 56'

    Gibson gets a yellow card after a bit of afters with Sean Hoare.

  • 51'

    Bolger goes down under a heavy challenge but he is ok to resume.

  • 46'

    And on comes DeVries for the second half.

  • 46'

    Kenny comes off he had a tough half against Sean Hoare in the first half.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: Well, it's pretty much 'even stevens' here at the Showgrounds. Both sides had half chances but the more clear cut would have been Graham Burke early in the half. Sligo will feel Shamrock Rovers are there for the taking.

  • 45'

    One added minute here at the end of the first half.

  • 43'

    McCourt with a curling free-kick but it goes over the bar. Mannus had the shot covered, however.

  • 40'

    Despite being a long way out, Figueira hits one from distance but it would have to be something special to beat Mannus.

  • 35'

    A corner sent in by Liam Scales is headed down by Sean Hoare but McGinty does well to save.

  • 32'

    A real midfield battle here, the teams build up on both sides has been excellent however, the final third is where the plays are being broken down. Defences have been solid its up to the front men to pick the lock.

  • 23'

    Fantastic chance for Sligo Rovers as Bolger lets one fly from a corner after being laid off however Mannus does excellently to save the attempt, the ball does end up in the back of the net but Figueira was offside.

  • 20'

    Twenty minutes in and this has been quite the contest. Both sides playing excellent football and while not real chances apart from that early strike from Burke both sides are trying to carve out chances.

  • 13'

    Shamrock Rovers have the first corner of the game, ball is cleared and Sean Kavanagh looked to strike it on the half volley but its goes wide.

  • 5'

    Sligo Rovers have had two opportunities from set-pieces but both haven't met their intended target.

  • 2'

    Early strike on goal from Burke who hit an excellent shot on his left and McGinty does well to save the shot and push the ball away.

  • 1'

    And Shamrock Rovers gets us underway, Graham Burke kicks us off here in the Showgrounds.

  • Big news from Shamrock Rovers is that Sean Gannon following a scan is out of today's game and is replaced by Dylan Watts.

  • And here come the teams. Shamrock Rovers are out first, Sligo Rovers are out also and warming up very differently in preparations in today's game.

  • Sligo Rovers drew 1-1 at home to Dundalk on the opening weekend of the season and since then have followed that up with two away victories over Waterford and Longford Town.

  • Shamrock Rovers comes into this game in the Showgrounds with four points on the board from their two games played and on the back of last week’s 2-1 win over Dundalk.

  • The teams are about to emerge for today's fixture. Greg Bolger who left Shamrock Rovers in the close season will be looking to prove a point today. The midfielder by all accounts wasn't happy at his departure from Tallaght.

  • Good Evening and welcome from FinalWhistle HQ where Ciaran Callan will be covering Sligo Rovers' tie with Shamrock Rovers. A game that could see Stephen Bradley's side keep in touch with the top of the table in the SSE Airtricity League.

Past Meetings

(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

Officials

RefereeAssistantsFourth Official
Derek TomneyAllen Lynch
Emmett Dynan
Neil Doyle

Ground

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

Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.