It’s an underpar display by Rovers
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 1 3 this was a wretched night indeed. Hampered by the losses, through injury, of centre-back Garry Buckley and goalkeeper Luke Nicholas, both first-choice players, rattled by the administrative error that led to the expunging of what was a good result away to Dundalk, and inactive since September 13, the date of their last competitive fixture, the Bit O’Red would still have been expected to make Shams work for their dinner.
As it turned out, an underperformance and a tweak in tactics that backfired meant that Shams came to The Showgrounds and enjoyed themselves as if spending a day in the sunshine on the beaches of Strandhill, are streets ahead of everyone else in the League of Ireland.
Front players Graham Burke and Rory Gaffney were both excellent, playmaker Jack Byrne was simply purring and the visitors’ wing-backs, Ronan Finn and Sean Kavanagh, were pushed high up the pitch akin to wingers.
Rovers, with goalkeeper Richard Brush called up to replace the injured Luke McNicholas, had a plan to stymie their opponents. But Shams had chances early on and made a breakthrough after 15 minutes – not through their exciting attackers but via a traditional set-piece routine as Daniel Cleary header found the net from a
1 1 from the edge of the box but her shot was straight into the arms of the Treaty netminder.
Rovers picked up from where they left off after the break with Gemma McGuinness increasingly looking like their best goal threat, seeing two chances go narrowly wide in quick succession.
Momentum stayed with Rovers but it appeared as if their efforts were set to go unrewarded until a free-kick from an inviting possession fives mintues from time presented an opportunity. Leah Kelly’s delivery found Paula McGrory whose header was saved by Trish Fennelly. She spilled the ball and subsitute Lauren McLellan was quickest to respond by stabbing the ball in.
Next up for Rovers is an away trip to Wexford Youths for a game that takes place on Saturday week, October 15 (6.15pm). It will be shown live on TG4. Wexford Youths are currently top of the table, a point clear of second-placed Shelbourne.
Aife Haran