Rovers and Limerick draw
SLIGO ROVERS 0 LIMERICK 0
TEN man Sligo Rovers held out to earn a point following a scoreless draw against Limerick at the Showgrounds on Friday night.
John Mahon was dismissed in the 81st minute for a second yellow card following a challenge on Mark O’Sullivan.
Rovers came into this game desperate for a win against fellow relegation strugglers Limerick.
The hosts were just one spot above Tommy Barrett’s side in the table, with the Bit O’Red’s superior goal difference seeing them sit in eighth spot.
Ger Lyttle had to make do without Regan Donelon, Gary Boylan, Adam Morgan and the suspeneded Patrick McClean, while Greg Moorhouse was not involved in the match day squad.
The Blues were worse off, though, as they were without nine players as they travelled to Sligo.
Following a very quiet opening half hout, in which neither goalkeeper was tested, Limerick came to life when Cian Coleman’s looping header smacked the crossbar, seemingly out of nowhere.
Seconds later, the visitors were denied by the woodwork once again. Daniel Kearns, who was on the books at Rovers last season, sent his free-kick goalwards, but the crossbar saved Sligo’s blushes.
Rovers went close twice before the interval. First, Seamus Sharkey’s cross came into the feet of Lewis Morrison after a dummy from Adam Wixted.
The 19-year-old tried to beat Brendan Clarke with a stylish flick, but the former Rovers net-minder was alert and gathered easily.
Clarke did well again just before half-time when he got behind Rhys McCabe’s volley to keep Rovers at bay.
The hosts felt they should have had a penalty when David Cawley was brought down by Wearen in the Limerick area, but referee Anthony Buttimer was not interested.
Kearns linked up with another former Rovers man in Eoin Wearen around the hour mark when the former’s corner was headed just wide by the latter as both sides went in search of a winner.
McCabe and substitute Raff Cretaro tried to give Rovers the lead as the game petered out, but Clarke was never really threatened in goal.
Rovers were reduced to ten men with nine minutes left on the clock when Buttimer gave Mahon his second yellow of the game, which appeared to be slightly harsh.
The home fans were celebrating on 90 minutes when David Cawley had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.
A vital clearance from Sharkey deep into injury time prevented O’Sullivan from scoring a certain winner for the visitors. That point does little for either side, with no change in the table following that draw.
Next up for Rovers is a visit to the new Brandywell on Friday night as they face Derry City.
Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Seamus Sharkey, Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Calum Waters; Caolan McAleer (Ally Roy, 61), Jack Keaney, David Cawley, Rhys McCabe (Eduardo Pinceli, 90+2), Adam Wixted; Lewis Morrison (Raffaele Cretaro, 61).
Limerick FC: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Eoin Wearen, Tony Whitehead, Billy Dennehy (Colm Walsh-O’Loughlin, 63); Karl O’Sullivan (Will Fitzgerald, 60), Shane Duggan, Cian Coleman, Kilian Cantwell, Daniel Kearns; Mark O’Sullivan.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.