Five star Rovers comfortable over MUCFP
SLIGO Rovers under 19s picked up their third win on the bounce with a dominative 5- 0 win over Monaghan United/ Cavan Football Partnership at McSharry Park on Sunday. A brace each from Mark Hannon and Shane McCallion was supplemented by a sublime second half strike from Martin Walsh as Rovers leap- frogged Finn Harps into top spot in the Northern Elite Division.
Brian Dorrian’s side were well on top throughout this contest and although they struggled to break down a defensive Monaghan outfit for the majority of the first half, a superb second 45 display of relentless attacking football saw the Bit O’Red cruise to victory.
The opener arrived four minutes from the break. The lurking Hannon getting his head on the end of Walsh’s cross from the right and nodding past Dixon at the back stick for his first goal of the season.
The second period was only seconds old when Rovers stretched their lead courtesy of a stunner from Walsh. Cutting inside from the right, he beat his man before unleashing an unstoppable 25 yard effort into Dixon’s top corner. His second of the campaign.
Two became three six minutes later. Higgins’ initial effort was pushed into the path of Hannon who from the angle, expertly chipped the ball over the hapless goalkeeper and into the opposite corner of the net for his second. It was all one way traffic for the remainder. Higgins and Morley worried the Monaghan defence with chances before Rovers’ fourth arrived on 64.
Fintan Borotto was upended close to the sideline and Morley’s set piece from the left was met with a towering header from McCallion for his first of the tie.
McCallion netted his second and Sligo’s fifth moments before the final whistle. The 18- year- old again popping up at the back post to head home.
Rovers U19’ s next fixture is a top of the table clash away to Finn Harps on Sunday week.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Mark Birrane ( Eoin Slevin 70), Shane McCallion, Shay Doherty, Fintan Borotto; Brian Morley, Paul Doyle ( Dayo Fabunmi 72), Jack Keaney, Martin Walsh; Mark Hannon ( Conor Heneghan 58); Gary Higgins ( Iarla Connor 73).