Bit O’Red are top of the table
Superb Rovers topple champs Shams in Tallaght
SLIGO Rovers find themselves on top of the Premier Division table this week – but pragmatic manager Liam Buckley is keeping his players firmly rooted to the ground.
The Bit O’Red’s effective 1-0 win away to Shamrock Rovers on Monday night moved them a point above the Premier Division leaders, with Rovers again away tomorrow, Friday, evening when they take on Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps at Ballybofey. Rovers’ first win away to Shams in the top flight since October 2013 has prompted a big reaction from Bit O’Red fans. Buckley is pleased to have brightened up the collective mood of the Rovers faithful but insists that there will be little time to rejoice in the camp as they quickly turn their attention towards their next game. “The optics on it looked great – we won and we have gone top of the table. “At the end of the day it is another three points that are no different to the three points to play for against Finn Harps on Friday,” he stated. The Finn Harps game has a 5.45pm start and is available to watch live on streaming platform
WATCHLOI.
THIS was a solid victory. Nothing more, nothing less. Still, a win not to be sniffed at. Sligo Rovers’ 2-0 home defeat of Longford Town last Friday night became this season’s seventh win for Liam Buckley’s side, albeit one of these victories was the 3-0 walkover win over Waterford FC. Confirmation of that Waterford result pushed Rovers up to second in the table ahead of their hosting of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division strugglers, who came to The Showgrounds second from bottom in the standings.
Second from top against second from bottom? No debate required to work out how this should go. To further fuel the notion that this top tier game should be a straightforward exercise for Rovers, Longford hadn’t won since their defeat of Derry City on the opening day of the season on March 20.
In the 10 winless games that followed (although there have been four draws for the midlands club) Daire Doyle’s side had been unlucky, sometimes outclassed but could be never criticised for lack of effort.
Rovers, having only beaten Longford by a solitary goal when the sides met at Bishopsgate in April, with Garry Buckley on target, were aware that last Friday’s assignment could be a tricky one.
Could is the opportune word. A clash that could be framed as Rovers efficiency against Longford’s grittiness was illuminated by Walter Figueira’s outstanding first-half goal.
Figueira, whose eagerness to get shots on target led to his fortuitous goal against Shamrock Rovers and then that rocket that almost broke Dundalk’s crossbar (but was kept out by the rattled woodwork), is emerging as a consistent attacking threat.
With Figueria improving alongside top scorer Jordan Gibson, whose converted penalty was the winger-turned-playmaker’s fifth goal of an increasingly productive season, 50% of Rovers’ strongest front four are functioning.
In theory, Figueira, Gibson, Romeo Parkes (who scored 13 goals for Rovers in 2019) and Ryan De Vries would have been Buckley’s preferred offensive quartet.
With Parkes and De Vries yet to fully come to the boil, it is fortunate that up and coming attackers Johnny Kenny and Mark Byrne have made the transition from first team squad members to credible starting XI options.
This is definitely the case for teenager Kenny, who was making his ninth start of the season last Friday – this being his debut year as senior level. Happily for Buckley and Rovers, Ryan De Vries, pictured, produced a lively display against Longford, full of purpose. He is a polished player who has, for various reasons, yet to ignite in 2021. Against superior opponents, midfield fulcrum Greg Bolger’s absence would have hampered Rovers’ chances. As it turned out, Lewis Banks stepped in to give an adequate display.
But Niall Morahan’s presence in the engine room ensured that Rovers had a midfield foothold throughout. Morahan, now established as one of the Premier Division’s better midfielders, excelled on the night along with goalscorer Figueira and the centre-back pairing of Garry Buckley and John Mahon.
The 2-0 scoreline was also a reminder of the comfort that a second goal brings because even the most dominant side can be caught if their lead is just 1-0.
While this game may not merit special significance when this campaign is recalled – but the asterisk attached to it is to denote that goal by Figueira – don’t forget that when a sequence of solid victories are put together then you get the possibility of a season to remember.