Goalscorer Frank savours his first goal for the Bit O’Red
Defender Darragh Leahy stumbled, fell and stopped the ball with his hands – an action that, as the fourth official pointed out to referee John McLoughlin, warranted a sending off. Ironically, St Pat’s and Finn Harps each had a player sent off in their recent games against Rovers but these decisions weren’t exploited by the Bit O’Red.
Dundalk battened down the hatches, bringing on defender Sam Bone (for striker John Martin), and it was now up to Rovers to find a way through Dundalk’s massed ranks.
The Bit O’Red, who had to be both careful and imaginative with their possession, created a series of chances.
Adam McDonnell’s shot was blocked after skilful work from Frank Liivak, with Lewis Banks and Paddy Kirk getting shots at goal but only finding Dundalk netminder Nathan Shepperd. Rovers, who were forced into a chance of their own when Cameron Evans made his debut as a replacement for injured centre-back Shane Blaney, finally got the breakthrough after 57 minutes.
Aidan Keena’s well-struck shot was parried by Shepperd and Rovers’ 16-goal man kept the ball alive and got it back to the busy Will Fitzgerald, whose shot went into the net via Dundalk defender Andy Boyle. Although a goal up, Rovers were still frustrated by Dundalk’s stubbornness, with substitute Max Mata and Will Fitzgerald both going close with efforts.
Rovers made it safe in the 83rd minute. Substitute Kailin Barlow’s neat pass released Aidan Keena, who was now back in his string-pulling role. Keena’s accurate cross from the right picked out an unmarked Frank Liivak in Dundalk’s penalty area and he netted deftly from close-range.
The home side might have added a third – again from a Keena delivery – but Lewis Banks was foiled by Shepperd.
Dundalk, who brought on the likes of Robbie Benson and David McMillan in an attempt to reverse their fortunes, made some offensive inroads in the last 10 minutes but Luke McNicholas was equal to the shots by Runar Hauge, Robbie Benson and Keith Ward.
Best for Rovers: Frank Liivak
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Lewis Banks, Shane Blaney (Cameron Evans 39), Nando Pijnaker, Paddy Kirk; Greg Bolger (c) (Niall Morahan 77), Robbie Burton (Kailin Barlow 77); Frank Liivak, Adam McDonnell (Max Mata 58), Will Fitzgerald; Aidan Keena Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Colm Horgan, Cillian Heaney, Eanna Clancy, Daire McCarthy
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; John Mountney (Runar Hauge 80), Lewis Macari, Andy Boyle (c), Darragh Leahy, Joe Adams (Keith Ward 80); Greg Sloggett (Robbie Benson 65), Alfie Lewis; Steven Bradley (David McMillan 65), John Martin (Sam Bone 30), Ryan O’Kane
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Brian Gartland, Robbie McCourt, Paul Doyle Referee: John McLoughlin
THIS was probably attacking midfielder Frank Liivak’s finest outing for Sligo Rovers since joining the club in June. The Estonian international, pictured, who scored his first goal for the Bit O’Red in Monday’s 2-0 home defeat of Dundalk, was a menace throughout this SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixture. “When I arrived at the club I wanted to score that first goal as soon as possible so it was a little bit on my nerves. I had some chances in previous games – now that the first goal is gone in, my mind is finally at peace!” Liivak’s skilful application, which has seen him fouled for four penalties in recent weeks, was recognised by the home support. “That’s how I try to play – give 100%. It is never easy to go to a new club, especially mid-season, but the lads in the squad have been amazing, very welcoming from the first day.
“The atmosphere in the squad and the club has made it easy for me to settle in. It is getting better
RESULTS
Played on Monday, August 29
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Series 19
THE SHOWGROUNDS: Sligo Rovers (0) 2 (Andy Boyle own goal, Frank Liivak), Dundalk (0) 0
FIXTURES Saturday, September 3
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
SERIES 29: Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm)
Friday, September 9
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
SERIES 30: Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers (Tolka Park, 7.45pm)
Saturday, October 1
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
SERIES 31: Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm)
RESULTS OVERVIEW
SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
R1: Sligo Rovers P Bohemians P (February 19); R2: 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); R5: 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 (RE-FIXTURE): Sligo Rovers 0, Bohemians 1 (Liam Burt) (April 5); R9: Sligo Rovers 2 (Max Mata 2), UCD 2 (Colm Whelan, Evan Caffrey) (April 9); R10: Dundalk 2 (Patrick Hoban, Daniel Kelly), Sligo Rovers 1 (Max Mata) (April 15); R11: 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);
R13: Sligo Rovers 1 (Jordan Hamilton), Shamrock Rovers 1 (Andy Lyons) (April 29); R14: Shelbourne 2 (Jack Moylan, Sean Boyd), Sligo Rovers 1 (Paddy Kirk) (May 6); R23 (RE-FIXTURE): Shamrock Rovers 3 (Graham Burke 3), Sligo Rovers 1 (Aidan Keena) (May
9); R15: Sligo Rovers 1 (Aidan Keena), St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (Darragh Burns) (May 14); R16: Bohemians 2 (Dawson Devoy, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe), Sligo Rovers 1 (Adam McDonnell) (May
20); R17: Sligo Rovers 2 (Garry Buckley, Seamas Keogh), Derry
City 1 (Jamie McGonigle) (May 23); UCD 1 (Dylan Duffy), Sligo Rovers 1 (Karl O’Sullivan) (May 27);
R19: Sligo Rovers P Dundalk P (June 11); R20: Sligo Rovers 3 (Aidan Keena 2, Karl O’Sullivan), Finn Harps 0 (June 18); R21: Drogheda United 0, Sligo Rovers 0 (June 24); R22: Sligo Rovers 3 (Aidan Keena 2, Max Mata), Shelbourne 1 (Brian McManus (July 2); R24: Sligo Rovers 0, UCD 2 (Donal Higgins, Dara Keane) (July 17); R26: Sligo Rovers 2 (Max Mata 2), Bohemians 1 (John O’Sullivan) (August 7); R27: St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (Serge Atakayi), Sligo Rovers 0 (August 14); R28: Finn Harps 3 (Barry
McNamee, Ryan Rainey, Ryan Connolly
PREMIER DIVISION D Shamrock Rvrs 5 Derry City 10 Dundalk 10 St Patrick’s Ath 6 Sligo Rovers 8 Bohemians 9 Shelbourne 5 Drogheda Utd 10 Finn Harps 6 UCD 7
L 4 4 5 8 9 10 12 11 17 17
F 41 43 37 39 37 34 25 29 26 19 for me day by day.”
The goalscorer said that he and his team-mates didn’t feel under pressure to get a result against Dundalk, but, nevertheless, having lost to St Patrick’s Athletic and Finn Harps, a third successive defeat would have been a massive blow.
“To keep the European dream alive for next year we have to keep winning – this result was the first step for us.
“We have to take things game by game for the rest of the season. Now we go on to the next game.
He added: “For the club and the whole town, Europe was amazing this year – I’ve played in European competitions for the last four or five seasons. I can’t imagine a season without it, so we will have to get there again.”
A 15 24 22 24 31 36 33 43 49 53
Diff +26 +19 +15 +15 +6 -2 -8 -14 -23 -34
MEDALS WON AT COMMUNITY GAMES ARTS AND CULTURE GIG:
CHAMPIONS CUP DELIGHT FOR SUPER LEAGUE HOLDERS: