Rovers sink Sligo with a late double

SECOND-HALF goals from Dylan Watts and Gary Shaw kept Shamrock Rovers on a roll as they had too much for 10-man Sligo at Tallaght Stadium. A fifth win in six unbeaten league games, in which they’ve not conceded a goal, moves Rovers to within a point of thirdplaced Waterford, who lost at Limerick. That meant that this was a damaging defeat for Sligo as they are now just two points ahead of Limerick in the relegation play-off place. The home side were far better in the second half than in the first and broke the deadlock on 66 minutes. Mitchell Beeney initially tipped away a Ronan Finn cross. Joel Coustrain pulled the ball back across goal for Carr who couldn’t get his shot away. But the ball ran for Watts, who shot to the net despite Beeney getting a touch. Sligo lost central defender Seamus Sharkey to a second yellow card on 82 minutes for a foul on Aaron Bolger before Rovers added a second goal four minutes from time. Beeney couldn’t hold a stinging drive from Finn. Substitute Shaw anticipated the rebound well to pounce and side-foot home to score for the second week running. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Bone, Lopes, Grace, Gilchrist; G. Bogler (A Bolger, 79); Greene (Shaw, 76), Watts, Finn, Coustrain; Carr (B Kavanagh, 70). Scorers: Watts 55, Shaw 86. SLIGO ROVERS: Beeney; Keaney, Mahon, Sharkey, Donelon; McCabe, Cawley; McAleer (Collins, 76), Lynch, Twardek (Kerrigan, 65); Drennan (McClean, 84). Sent-off: Sharkey 81. Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).