Manager gives pragmatic view after away loss
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
P W L A 10 6 1 8 10 4 2 10 10 5 4 12 9 4 2 9 10 4 4 9 9 3 3 10 10 3 4 11 9 3 4 6 9 1 3 14 10 0 6 16
RESULTS
Played on Friday, April 12
TALLAGHT STADIUM: Shamrock Rovers (1) 3 (Graham Burke, Aaron Greene 2), Sligo Rovers (0) 0
Played on Saturday, April 13
MARKETS FIELD: Treaty United (0) 0, Sligo Rovers (0) 0
Pts 21 16 16 15 14 12 12 11 8 4
FIXTURES Friday, April 19
Saturday, April 20
GROUP ‘D’ – ROUND TWO: Athlone Town v Sligo Rovers (Athlone Town Stadium, 7.30pm)
Monday, April 22
Connor Malley
Leon Pohls; Daniel Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Josh Honohan (Cian Barrett 79); Darragh Burns, Dylan Watts (Conan Noonan 66), Gary O’Neill (Trevor Clarke 67), Markus Poom; Darragh Nugent (Johnny Kenny 66), Graham Burke (Richie Towell 66); Aaron Greene
Subs not used: Lee Steacy (gk), Toms Leitis (gk), John O’Sullivan, Cory O’Sullivan Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley, Niall Morahan; Fabrice Hartmann (Owen Elding 75), Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow
75), Will Fitzgerald (Rein Smit 75); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 75)
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Kyle McDonagh, Daire Patton, Conor Reynolds, Stefan Radosavljevic Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Attendance: 6,059
Sligo Rovers v Galway United (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm)
FIXTURES Friday, April 26
Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers (Weavers Park, 7.45pm)
Saturday, April 27
Friday, May 3
FIXTURES Saturday, May 4
Wexford FC v Sligo Rovers (Ferrycarrig Park, 5pm)
SLIGO Rovers manager John Russell was typically pragmatic after his side’s disheartening 3-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium last Friday night.
“Shamrock Rovers were very good on the night,” Russell admitted afterwards.
“In the first-half we had a game plan to be compact and try to limit them to a few chances. I thought we competed well in that first-half.
He continued: “We wanted to be going in at half-time at nil-all, then Graham Burke hit a ‘worldie’, a brilliant finish, to give them the lead. It was an incredible strike but he has that quality, we’ve see that from him throughout the years.
“The real killer for us to concede so early in the second-half and that meant we were 2-0 down away from home. It was up to regroup for the second-half, be solid and try to hit Shamrock Rovers on the counter.
“We weren’t good enough on the ball. We had a game plan defensively but we were giving the ball away too cheaply. Shamrock Rovers were dominating possession and when that happens away from home then you are going to have a difficult night.”
Russell, who was talking to LOITV, maintained that Rovers will turn the page on this setback as there are two fixtures in four days at The Showgrounds against Dunday tomorrow, Friday, and Galway United on Monday.
He added: “We’ll lick our wounds and move on. We have two home games and they are going to be key for us.
“I know we’ve got good players and they have shown already this season what they can do – we have to bounce back in the next two home games. We will have to massive crowds for these