31' Aaron O'Driscoll
Karl O'Sullivan 32'
0-1
34' Daniel Carr
Paddy Kirk 70'
Assistants: Chris Campbell
Assistants: Shane O’Brien
Fourth Official: Neil Doyle

Details

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

Match Report

Carr steers Shels to win in Sligo

A Dan Carr penalty was enough for Shelbourne to take all three points back down the road to Dublin for their second win of the season.

Liam Buckley’s Sligo Rovers will rue their sluggish first half as the suffer their first defeat of the campaign.

The opening quarter of an hour of the game was slow with neither side really showing any signs of danger as they battled for possession. The high press from Damien Duffs side, however, began to wear down the midfield of the home team.  

As the half through on Shelbourne got a stronger foothold in the contest, Liam Buckeys’ side were forced to drop deep to try get into the game. There was no let up for the away side as their press lead to a number of chances in quick succession from O’Driscoll and Farrell. 

On the half hour mark Rovers had an attack halted with O’Driscoll picking up the first yellow of the game. Clarke dealing with the resulting free kick easily, dispatching the ball quickly to force Rovers back on the defensive only for O’Sullivan to catch Kane in the box to give away an unnecessary penalty. Dan Carr stepped up and smashed the ball home to give the Reds the lead. 

Sligo picked up their pace as the half drew to a close but just before half time disaster struck as star man Aidan Keenas night was ended prematurely through an ankle injury. 

The second half began similar to the first as both sides struggled to get a foothold on the game with the Dublin side looking sharpest once again. 

The home side were beginning to grow in confidence when David Cawley saw an effort blocked away for a corner before Buckley made a triple substitution introducing Bolger, Keogh and Kirk. 

The three made themselves at home quickly Bolger and Keogh linked up well in midfield while Kirk developed a rivalry with former Longford town team mate Aodh Dervin with some strong challenges.  

Sligo pushed on but were no match for the Shels defence as Brendan Clarke marshalled them well from between the sticks.  

The game almost turned into a battle royale as the side clashed in the centre circle with Bolger picking up his customary yellow card.  

With six minutes added it was backs to the wall for the Reds as they were bombarded with shots, Keogh coming the closest, the former Southampton man driving his shot into the arms of the ever present Clarke. 

Next up for Shels is a home tie against champions Shamrock Rovers next Friday night while the Bit ‘O Red host Bohemians on Tuesday evening.  

Sligo Rovers

1Ed McGinty Goalkeeper
2Colm Horgan Defender
4Shane Blaney Defender
5Robbie McCourt 19 Defender
7Will Fitzgerald 6 Midfielder
17Adam McDonnell Midfielder
22David Cawley Midfielder
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
10Jordan Hamilton 12 Forward
9Aidan Keena 27 Forward
14Karl O’Sullivan 11 Forward 32'
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
19Paddy Kirk 5 Defender 70'
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
6Greg Bolger 7 Midfielder
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
11Seamas Keogh 14 Midfielder
12Mark Byrne 10 Midfielder
27Max Mata 9 Forward

Shelbourne

1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
2John Ross Wilson Defender
3Conor Kane Defender
4Aaron O’Driscoll Defender 31'
8Mark Coyle Midfielder
14Daniel Carr 19 Forward 34'
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder
17Shane Farrell 9 Forward
22Jordan McEneff 20 Midfielder
23Luke Byrne Defender
32Kameron Ledwidge Defender
Gavin Molloy Midfielder
Gbemi Arubi Forward
9Sean Boyd 17 Forward
10Jack Moylan Midfielder
11Dan Hawkins Forward
12Jad Hakiki Midfielder
19Stanley Anaebonam 14 Forward
25Lewis Webb Goalkeeper
28Stephen Negru Defender
20Kyle O’Connor 22 Midfielder
  • 96'

    Full Time

  • 96'

    Shels holding firm to see out the final moments

  • 94'

    Keogh with a chance from range, straight at Clarke

  • 90'

    Carr is replaced by Anaebonam

  • 89'

    Clark with a succession of fantastic saves to keep his side in front

  • 89'

    Sligo pushing for an equaliser as Shels hold firm

  • 87'

    Bolger sees yellow the sides clash in the middle of the field

  • 84'

    Kirk is lucky not to get his marching orders as he goes in hard on his former longford teammate Dervin

  • 82'

    McEniff makes way of O'Connor

  • 78'

    Mark Byrne replaces Hamilton in Sligos final change

  • 76'

    Shels are soaking up the pressure as Sligo ask some questions

  • 72'

    Dervin and Kirk tussle once more with the shels man getting the decision of the referee

  • 70'

    Kirk sees yellow for a poor foul on Dervin

  • 68'

    Kane dragging shels back into this lifting the spirits of his side

  • 66'

    Bolger and Keogh have been lively since entering the fray which is exactly what Rovers needed

  • 63'

    Sean Boyd replaces Farrell

  • 58'

    Keogh Bolger and Kirk replace O'Sullivan Fitzgerald and McCourt

  • 58'

    Better from Sligo as we approach the hour mark

  • 52'

    Half chance for sligo, as Cawley is thwarted at the final moment,

  • 49'

    Both sides battling in the early stages of the half

  • 46'

    Shels get the second half underway

  • Half time

  • 45'

    Aidan Keena has gone down for Rovers and his night ends prematurely as he is replaced by Mata

  • 44'

    Rovers have upped their intensity as we approach half time, winning a free kick 30 yards out, which Clarke deals with comfortably

  • 41'

    McCourt wonderfully dances past two Shelbourne defenders and delivers the ball into the box but not Rovers player is there to meet it

  • 38'

    There is no let up in Shels as they continue to press every ball

  • 34'

    Carr steps up and drives the ball into the net

  • 32'

    Shels drive forward and win a penalty as O'Sullivan takes down Kane in the box

  • 31'

    O'Driscoll gives away a free in a dangerous area and receives the games first yellow in the process

  • 27'

    A number of chances in quick succession as O'Driscall and Farrell come close for Shels

  • 25'

    Sligo lacking in ideas and energy so far in the game, something Liam Buckley will be hoping see change before half time

  • 21'

    Sligo battle well as McDonnell wins the ball but possession is wasted

  • 16'

    The away side have had the better of the exchanges in the opening 15 minutes but their attack has been fairly toothless

  • 10'

    Shels pressing high putting rovers under the kosh

  • 7'

    Shels getting into the game winning the first corner of the game

  • 4'

    Both sides battling for a sustained period of possession in front of a packed showgrounds

  • 1'

    Sligo get us underway at the showgrounds

  • In team news, fresh from picking up his first player of the month award, Aidan Keena leads the line for the Bit 'O Red

  • Welcome to coverage of Sligo Rovers V Shelbourne live on FinalWhistle.ie

Officials

AssistantsFourth Official
Chris Campbell
Shane O’Brien
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