Sligo Rovers 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
PAT FENLONโS HOOPS started their season perfectly as they secured a 2-0 victory over nine men Sligo in a fiery encounter in The Showgrounds this evening.
Brandon Miele and Danny North netted for Pat Fenlonโs side, while the Bit oโRed had both Kieran Sadlier and Craig Roddan sent off.
A new-look Sligo Rovers would have been hoping to surprise the doubters in this difficult meeting with Pat Fenlonโs side, but it was never going to be easy.
Trouble in the packed away end took much of the focus in the early stages of the first-half, with matters on the field turning almost as feisty as off it.
The visiting fans unfurled a banner reading โRobertson war criminal, shame on Sligoโ which was met by boos from the Sligo faithful.
Once things quietened down in the stands, the visitors were celebrating taking the lead after 20 minutes when former Bit oโRed talisman Danny North hit the back of the net, only for the referee to raise his flag for offside.
The Hoops did get the crucial opener on 42 minutes when a superb 30-yard Brandon Miele free-kick beat Micheรกl Schlingermann in goal.
Sligo were facing an uphill battle as it was, but things were about to get a whole lot worse when they were reduced to 10 men as midfielder Kieran Sadlier was sent for an early shower after a nasty challenge on Killian Brennan.
The Bit oโRed looked to be coming back into the game after the interval, but further ugly scenes led to the hosts being reduced to nine men, as Liverpudlian Craig Roddan was given his second yellow of the game for lashing out at Brennan.
North put the game to bed with seconds left on the clock as he slotted past Schlingermann to make it 2-0.
An ugly game. no doubt, but in reality neither goalkeeper was kept busy at all on the evening in a feisty affair that saw little goalmouth action.
Sligo Rovers: Schlingermann, Adebayo-Rowling, Donelon, Leahy, Clancy, Keohane, Roddan, Richards, Sadlier, Roberts (Lyons, 85), Gordon (Martin, 77).
Subs: Nugent, Peers, Boylan, Place, Cretaro.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Madden, Brennan, OโConnor, Blanchard, McCabe (Shaw, 79), Brennan, D. Clarke (Cregg, 72), Miele, Drennan, North.
Subs: Hyland, Webster, Purdy, Cornwall, T. Clarke.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
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Hilarious, chelsea fans booing their new manager before a ball Is kicked. Rafa didnโt sack di matteo! Why donโt they boo abramovich??
Oh yeah because if they do he might leave with all his millions and chelsea will go back to being a mid table teamโฆ
nail on head john;)
Rafa,True Red,There to take the money.Why not! ynwa
YNYA in Brenden we trust