Sligo Rovers 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
PAT FENLON’S 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 Fenlon’s side, while the Bit o’Red 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 Fenlon’s 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 ‘Robertson war criminal, shame on Sligo’ 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 o’Red 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 Micheál 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 o’Red 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, O’Connor, 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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Class score to win the game, Derry ran em to the end.
Great match. What a point by McBrearty to win it. Devastated for Derry though, they played so well
Wow Paddy McBrearty. What a kick!! I felt the referee should have let Derry get a shot off the end. Hard on them.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: he did, he played a minute over the added time with Derry in possession inside the Donegal 45. Derry lads didn’t have a go. Derry unlucky on the day though, great game.
@Shimmy Shammy: in 2015 in the munster final between Cork and Kerry, Cork were beating kerry by a point. Well over the allocated injury time, Fionn Fitzgerald kicked the equalising point. The ref didn’t blow it up till the shot was taken. The ref should have let derry get a shot off.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Fionn Fitzgerald took that on from 45 yards because the ref was about to blow up. A Derry player should have done the same
@Eoin Fitzgerald: That game has no relevance on today, how long do you give them? They had at least 3/4 opportunities to shoot but opted to recycle the ball. Derry played well today but will regret that passage of play.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Two wrongs don’t make a right. None of the Derry players wanted to take on the responsibility of shooting. The ref can’t kick it for them.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Maybe a great bit of trivia there Eoin but thems not the rules lad. The “we were hard done by so everyone else needs to suffer too” mentality is a little weak..
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Ref played a minute over and gave Derry ample time to get the shot off. Even when he blew for full time he motioned to the players that ye were just passing back and forth. Nobody wanted the responsibility of taking a shot. Better to take a shot and try rather than not at all.
@Alan Kenny: I think fair play to mcgoldrick for blowing it. 53 seconds inside the opposition half and no shot. If he let it go another 30 seconds w d be up in arms over it
@Eoin Fitzgerald: the ref gave them more than enough time to have a shot.
@Alan Kenny: he did indicate that allright
When losing team is down by one score they should be allowed to continue playing only in opponents half and it’s up to winning team to dispossess them or put ball out of play