Dundalk too much for Rovers
DUNDALK SLIGO ROVERS
SLIGO Rovers fell to their fifth defeat on the road this season following a disappointing second half collapse against Dundalk at Oriel Park last Friday.
The Bit O’Red failed to record a single effort on goal against the more experienced and refined Lilywhites who looked out of sorts in the first period.
However the second half saw a much more purposeful display from the champions who ran out comfortable 4- 0 victors in the end.
Jamie McGrath went home with the match ball courtesy of his second half hat- trick.
His first arrived on in the 54th minute when the sluggish defending from Tobi Adebayo- Rowling allowed the former Pat’s man to finish past Micheál Schlingermann for his first goal for the club.
Adebayo- Rowling has failed to recapture the sort of form that saw him named the club’s young player of the year in 2016 and was again at fault for McGrath’s second on 72 minutes.
Niclas Vemmelund netted his second of the season on the stroke of full- time following further mishap in the Sligo defence.
Adebayo- Rowling’s night was summed up three minutes into injury time when his clumsy challenge on McGrath grounded the 20- year- old.
There was only ever going to be one outcome as the young attacker fired past Schlingermann from twelve yards for his third and Dundalk’s fourth.
Things had started on a positive note for Rovers on a damp night in the north east.
Dundalk have struggled to capture the form of the previous three season thus far and were looking to put recent patchy form behind them.
They went at Rovers with pace in the early exchanges but Ger Lyttle’s charges were able to deal with anything their illustrious opponents could muster.
Indeed it was Rovers who fashioned the first half chance of the night. The hard working Raffaele Cretaro found Kieran Sadlier down the left side with a smart through ball between two Dundalk defenders. Sadlier’s cross was inviting for anyone to come off the right but no taker was available.
The Louth men narrowed play when necessary and began to find pockets of space in the middle behind Sligo’s central pairing of John Russell and Gary Boylan. Kyle Callan- McFadden did well to block Robbie Benson’s attempted threaded ball towards the dangerously positioned McGrath. While the Donegal man did just enough to put off Paddy Barrett as he looked to guide Patrick McEleney’s set- piece goalward on 12.
Dundalk continued in their attempts to make the most of the space provided to them. McEleney, in oceans of room in front of the Rovers area picked out McMillan but his scuffed effort was simple for Schlingermann to hold.
Benson let fire from 25 yards mid- way through the half but could only sky his poor attempt while Rovers had what was probably their best chance of the tie just short of the half hour.
Sadlier’s trickery finding Liam Martin whose cross from the left landed just behind Jonah Ayunga who was stationed goal- side of his defender inside the six yard box.
The Brighton loanee unable to bring the ball under his spell much to the relief of the flat footed Barrett.
Cretaro was next to fire over from distance on 32 as the Showgrounds side went through what was their most dangerous moments although they never worried Gary Rogers in the opposition goal.
Dundalk had shouts for a penalty turned down by referee Graham Kelly on 35.
The ball seemed to strike Mick Leahy’s hand as Michael Duffy crossed from the right, but Kelly was instantly adamant in waving play on.
Dundalk’s McMillan endured a tough couple of months during his spell in Sligo four years ago. The Dubliner has gone on to enjoy unparalleled success at Oriel but reminded those who travelled of his time in the north west when he wastefully lashed over following an incisive Dundalk break six minutes from the whistle.
While Duffy glanced his shot across the face of the Sligo goal on the next attack.
Dundalk continued their threat into the second half.
Benson twice let down the home support with feeble off- target efforts while a combination of Schlingermann and Callan- McFadden kept out McGrath’s stinger after the former failed to properly clear the ball from his area.
The Rovers net minder was at ease when coping with Shields’ placed 25- yarder on 53 but wasn’t helped by sloppy defending from Adebayo- Rowling three minutes later.
The full- back allowing McGrath around him before sending the ball between Schlingermann’s legs for the opener.
Callan- McFadden mis- controlled Duffy’s ball forward but Benson again fired over on the hour.
Dundalk’s second arrived on 72 as Rovers began to sink further. Adebayo- Rowling’s half- hearted attempt to throw a leg at a crossfield ball was punished as the waiting McGrath pounced. Drifting effortlessly past the full- back, McGrath then fired past Schlingermann for his brace.
The away side, now playing with just one striker, had to rely on Regan Donelon to sweep Patrick McEleney’s chip off the line shortly before Dundalk threatened with quick- fire attempts from both Vemmelund and substitute Ciaran Kilduff.
A combination of Callan- McFadden and Schlingermann kept McGrath out three minutes from time after the centre half conceded possession inside his own area. But further damage was done on 90 minutes when Rovers were caught ball- watching. Vemmelund bundling Duffy’s free across the line for Dundalk’s third.
Kilduff somehow miscued from four yards out as the game drifted towards its final breath.
Stephen Kenny’s men were not finished here however and there was still time for another defensive error as Adebayo- Rowling crashed into McGrath inside the Rovers box. There was little doubt who would hit the resulting penalty.
Rovers now hover just above the relegation zone, level on points with third from bottom Bohs.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Niclas Vemmelund, Sean Hoare, Paddy Barrett, Dane Massey; Michael Duffy, Chris Shields, Robbie Benson ( Tommy Stewart 88), Jamie McGrath; Patrick McEleney ( Stephen O’Donnell 84); Dave McMillan ( Ciaran Kilduff 79).
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Mick Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Regan Donelon; Liam Martin ( Mikey Place 85), Gary Boylan, John Russell ( Mathew Stevens 78), Kieran Sadlier; Raffaele Cretaro; Jonah Ayunga ( Craig Roddan 59).
Referee: Graham Kelly