Buckley says Bit O’Red deserved to get a draw
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PREMIER DIVISION P W D Derry City 13 9 3 Shamrock Rvrs 13 8 3 Dundalk 13 5 6 Sligo Rovers 13 5 5 St Patrick’s Ath 13 6 2 Bohemians 13 4 6 Drogheda Utd 13 3 4 Shelbourne 13 3 3 Finn Harps 13 2 4 UCD 13 0 4
L 1 2 2 3 5 3 6 7 7 9
F 28 21 18 18 15 19 16 10 11 7
A 10 9 10 13 12 15 24 19 21 30
Diff +18 +12 +8 +5 +3 +4 -8 -9 -10 -23
THIS Clash of the Rovers ended level at The Showgrounds, with Jordan Hamilton supplying the equaliser for the Bit O’Red who had to hold on for the last 10 minutes with 10 players. Given the nature of the televised contest and considering Shamrock Rovers’ obvious strengths, it was understandable that Rovers boss Liam Buckley would see this result as a point gained rather than two points dropped.
“It was a hard-earned point and we probably deserved it. We put in a good shift and I’m pleased with the point,” said the 62-year-old Dubliner. Attacker Cillian Heaney, a second-half substitute who was involved in the creation of the equaliser, was praised by Buckley. “He is another one of the lads who have come through the academy – he just needs an opportunity [in the first team]. He made an impact and showed plenty of energy. “He has a lot to offer, he’s quick, he’s a good header of the ball and
IMPACT SUB: Cillian Heaney,
SHELBOURNE
THIS game at Tolka Park tomorrow, Friday, is the first of two away fixtures in four days in Dublin for Rovers. Damien Duff’s Shelbourne are currently eighth in the standings, with eight points fewer than the Bit O’Red. Last season’s First Division champs lost 1-0 away to Finn Harps last Friday, their seventh setback in 13 games, but one of their three wins so far was a 1-0 defeat of Rovers at The Showgrounds on April 1.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
(Away) (Away)
MIDFIELD DUEL: Rovers’ David Cawley gets away from Gary O’Neill of Shams.
Sligo Rovers P Bohemians P (February 19); St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (Tunde Owolabi), Sligo Rovers 2
(Colm Horgan, Aidan Keena) (February 25); R3: Derry City 0, Sligo Rovers 0 (February 28); R4: Sligo Rovers 0, Dundalk 0 (March 5); Drogheda United 0, Sligo Rovers 3 (Lewis Banks, Jordan Hamilton, Will Fitzgerald) (March 11); R6: Sligo Rovers 3
(Aidan Keena 3), Finn Harps 1 (Luke Rudden) (March 14); R7: Shamrock Rovers 2 (Graham Burke pen, Adam McDonnell own goal), Sligo Rovers 2 (Will Fitzgerald, Aidan Keena) (March 18); R8: Sligo Rovers 0, Shelbourne 1 (Daniel Carr pen) (April 1); R1 (REFIXTURE): Sligo Rovers 0, Bohemians 1 (Liam Burt) (April 5); R9: Sligo Rovers 2 (Max Mata 2), UCD 2 (Colm Whelan, Evan Caffrey) (April 9); Dundalk 2 (Patrick Hoban, Daniel Kelly), Sligo Rovers 1 (Max Mata) (April 15);
Finn Harps 0, Sligo Rovers 1 (Karl O’Sullivan) (April 18); R12: Sligo Rovers 3 (David Cawley 2, Garry Buckley), Drogheda United 2 (Georgie Poynton, Shane Blaney own goal) (April 23);
Sligo Rovers 1 (Jordan Hamilton), Shamrock Rovers 1 (Andy Lyons) (April 29).