Champs dictate
well-flighted Sean Kavanagh corner. Rovers were on the back foot even more and, aside from a couple of shots from top scorer Aidan Keena, they were forced to defend deep and often, with Colm Horgan and Nando Pijnaker getting stuck in.
Shams doubled their lead in the 38th minute – Dylan Watts with the finish but the story of the goal was the peach of a through ball from Jack Byrne. Rovers thought they had found a way back but the match officials didn’t spot an apparent Shams handball that had blocked Max Mata’s effort from close-range after a rare threatening ball from Rovers into the Shams box. Richard Brush had done well to deny
Graham Burke after 57 minutes but the experienced custodian was powerless when Burke netted Shams’ third goal 13 minutes later – a cross from Rory Gaffney left the ball on a plate for his team-mate.
The home fans finally had something to cheer about in the 75th minute. Substitute Kailin Barlow, who must be thinking that he’ll finally get his Premier Division start in the coming weeks, lofted the ball in from a free-kick and Nando Pijnaker got a neat touch to score and so take the bare look off the scoreline.
Best for Rovers: Richard Brush
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Colm Horgan,
Shane Blaney, Nando Pijnaker, Paddy Kirk; Greg Bolger (Niall Morahan 63), Adam McDonnell (Kailin Barlow 63), David Cawley (Robbie Burton 46); Frank Liivak (Karl O’Sullivan 72); Aidan Keena, Max Mata (Will Fitzgerald 63)
Subs not used: Conor Walsh (gk), Lewis Banks, Cameron Evans, Seamas Keogh Shamrock Rovers: Alan Manus; Ronan
Finn (Neil Farrugia 84), Sean Gannon (Sean Hoare 74), Lee Grace, Daniel Cleary, Sean Kavanagh (Andy Lyons 71); Dylan Watts, Gary O’Neill; Jack Byrne (Viktor Serdenyuk 84); Rory Gaffney, Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 71)
Subs not used: Leon Pohls (gk), Roberto Lopes, Justin Ferizaj, AidomoEmakhu Referee: Paul McLaughlin
BACK OF THE NET: Rovers’ goalscorer Nando Pijnaker grabs the ball from the Shams’ goal after he scored in the 75th minute of last Saturday’s game at The Showgrounds.