Rovers beat Limerick at the Showgrounds
SLIGO Rovers produced their finest performance of the season to date at the Showgrounds on Saturday evening to beat Limerick for what was manager Gerard Lyttle’s first victory since taking the helm three weeks ago.
Raffaele Cretaro netted the opener just two minutes in when he profited from hesitation in the Blues defence to rifle home Kyle Callan- McFadden’s cushioned header across the area.
There was no let up for Willie Boland’s men as Rovers made the most of another defensive slipup, this time from former Showgrounds net- minder Brendan Clarke when Jonah Ayunga finished to an empty net on the quarter hour.
The superb Kieran Sadlier completed the rout two minutes into the second half when both Clarke and Limerick defender Robbie Williams could only watch on as Liam Martin’s cross somehow found its way past both men for the lively Sadlier to finish. The result saw Rovers move out of the relegation zone for the first time in the current campaign.
Lyttle kept faith with the side he saw dumped out of the EA Sports Cup the Monday previous and was rewarded for his decision early on. Rodrigo Tosi, who registered a hattrick the last time these teams met in February felled John Russell at the edge of the Limerick box.
Russell took his own free, finding Callan- McFadden in space towards the back post.
The Donegal man caused consternation in the opposition rearguard as two Blues defenders failed to clear their lines. Possession falling instead to the prowling Cretaro who lashed the ball past Clarke from 15 yards. His 82nd goal in red.
Sadlier has been a leading light at the Showgrounds to date this season and was unfortunate not to double the lead four minutes after Cretaro’s opener. Russell’s raking ball out to the left wing found Sadlier in space. The former West Ham youth moved inside
with pace but could only watch on as his effort cannoned back off Clarke’s crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
The Munster men did create the occasional chance but were found sorely lacking in the finishing department.
Tosi headed Dean Clarke’s cross from the Treacy Avenue side past Micheál Schlingermann’s post although the Rovers number one looked to have it covered.
The home side were making their chances count and made Limerick pay for more defensive sloppiness on 15.
Clarke was caught in two minds as he rushed to claim a punt forward from the Rovers defence. He seemed to alter his decision mid- way through however, stalling and back- peddling as the ball fell to Cretaro who had the presence of mind to pick out Ayunga.
The Brighton loanee left with a relatively simple finish as Sligo’s clinical mindset continued to pay dividends.
Schlingermann almost single- handedly won a crucial point on the road for his team against Drogheda recently and he kept Limerick at bay once more on 25.
Rovers struggled to clear danger inside their area before the ball eventually broke to Tosi but the alert Schlingermann did just enough to scramble the Brazilian’s drive into his arms.
Clarke was under pressure again shortly after and was done little favour by his team mate Chiedozie Ogbene who cheaply surrendered possession to Martin. His pass was collected by Sadlier who from 20 yards, dummied his marker but was foiled by Clarke who gathered the resulting shot at the second attempt.
Ayunga might have claimed a brace six minutes from the break. Sadlier continued to torment Limerick right back Shaun Kelly and buzzed by his challenge before stinging the palms of Clarke who was unable to hold the effort.
Ayunga was quick off the mark but his attempted chip was com- fortable for Clarke to catch mid- air.
The second half wasn’t as busy as the one it followed with Rovers continuing to generally control the tie for large patterns.
Their cause was given a further boost in the second minute of the half when Limerick collapsed once more.
Clarke and Williams seemed both to be in control of Martin’s cross from the right but somehow the ball trickled through to Sadlier who didn’t have to be asked a second time as tapped home for his third goal in five outings.
Boland had introduced John O’Flynn at the break in an effort to bolster his attack.
The veteran forward should have done better after Russell’s attempted volleyed clearance went horribly wrong for the Galway man.
O’Flynn’s following effort wasn’t much better however as Schlingermann watched the ball roll harmlessly wide.
Both Sadlier and Shane Duggan skied attempts from distance for either side as the game looked to be beyond Limerick.
While Ayunga cut by his marker on 71 minutes only to to shoot over again.
The chances continued to arrive for Rovers as they sought to put the game to bed.
But Martin was just inches off Sadlier’s squared ball to the back stick.
The Markets Field outfit did have a late chance to salvage a consolation but again Tosi was found wanting as Schlingermann easily handled his weak strike at goal minutes from the final whistle.
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Mick Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Regan Donelon; Liam Martin, Gary Boylan, John Russell, Kieran Sadlier ( Mikey Place 88); Raffaele Cretaro ( Craig Roddan 78), Jonah Ayunga ( Mathew Stevens 86).
Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Robbie Williams, Tony Whitehead, Tommy Robson; Dean Clarke ( John O’Flynn 46), Shane Duggan, Paul O’Conor ( Bastien Hery 63), Chiedozie Ogbene; Lee Lynch ( Chris Mulhall 80); Rodrigo Tosi. Referee: Damien McGrath