League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 0 Sligo Rovers

Gary Shaw’s first goal for The Hoops and a Gary McCabe brace was enough to provide Shamrock Rovers with a comfortable victory over Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night.

There was early drama in Tallaght as Sligo captain Craig Roddan bundled down Gavin Brennan from a Killian Brennan corner inside the opening ten minutes. There were little complaints from the away side as Rodden also received a booking in the process. Gary McCabe stepped up and with his slow, calm run up, he smashed the penalty home to give The Hoops the lead and notch his fourth goal this season.

The next few times The Hoops goalscorer got on the ball it seemed Sligo wanted some revenge with heavy challenges on him. First a late tackle by Raffaele Cretaro which he was lucky to escape a caution from, followed by being push to the ground by Gary Boylan.

Referee Graham Kelly seemed to have his work cut out for him as maybe due to the miserable weather conditions, players were misjudging their tackles all across the park which left the official no choice but to produce six yellow cards on the night.

The early goal didn’t seem to affect Sligo’s play and the front two of Liam Martin and Cretaro were causing some headaches for The Hoops backline. The latter of the two unfortunately found himself straying just offside twice as he tried to break the line. 

Gary Shaw came close twice for the home side with headed efforts. Firstly he got a yard of space from an out swinging corner but couldn't get enough on the ball as his effort glanced wide. Secondly a high ball over the top that Michael Schlingerman came out for but Shaw beat him in the air only to see his looping header end up on top of the netting.

Sligo’s lack of efforts in the first half were telling and their best opportunities were coming from corners. Craig Hyland in goal for The Hoops was struggling a bit with his handling due to the conditions but Sligo failed to capitalise.

Shaw did eventually get his goal on the night. After a swift move from McCabe and Simon Madden on the right, Madden crossed for Shaw who directed his shot low to beat Schlingerman at his near post. That was the Rovers forward’s first goal for the club and on his 24th birthday too!

Just before the break Dean Clarke had his first real go to run at Sligo’s Toby Adebayo-Rowling. Clarke cut inside the left and was taken down by the full back to win a free just on the corner of the box. Miele played the resulting free short to Killian Brennan but his strike hit a bunch of players and was cleared, Brennan’s weak claims for a penalty were waved away.

The home side started the second half with a lot of confidence after coming into it two goals to the good. It didn’t take them long to make it 3-0 as ten minutes in the second half Clarke played a brilliant cross in from the left and Gary McCabe timed his run perfectly to find himself free in the six-yard box. He was never going to miss as he headed low to grab his second of the contest.

McCabe was influencing the game a lot and he nearly got his hat-trick when he broke through one on one but he seemed to be clipped which put him off balance, struggling to stay up he couldn't get much power on his shot and Schlingerman was able to save. 

Not long after McCabe almost got his hat-trick yet again when he latched on to a Brandon Miele cross only to see his headed attempt excellently saved by Schlingerman. Danny North was only on the pitch for a couple of minutes when he got to the rebound but drove his shot into the side netting.

Sligo’s first real opportunity of the half came when substitute Kieran Sadlier nutmegged Stephen McPhail on the end line which got himself into space but he could only direct his shot straight at Hyland from a very tight angle.

Then right at the death Sligo had their best chance for a consolation as Keohane got himself free on goal, but one on one Hyland spread himself well to prevent a goal and keep his side’s clean sheet intact. 

Pat Fenlon will be very pleased with his Shamrock Rovers teams display tonight as they showed a professional performance and were too strong for Sligo on the night.

Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, David Webster, Rob Cornwall, Gavin Brennan; Killian Brennan (Sean Boyd 82), Pat Cregg, Gary McCabe; Brandon Miele, Gary Shaw (Danny North 61), Dean Clarke (Stephen McPhail 72).

Subs Not Used: Barry Murphy, Sean Heaney, Richard Purdy, Gareth McCaffrey.

Booked: Gary Shaw (28), Dean Clarke (34), Gavin Brennan (87) 

Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Regan Done, Michael Leahy, Gary Boylan; Jimmy Keohane, Craig Roddan, John Russell, Jordan Richards (Phil Roberts 72); Liam Martin (Kieran Sadlier 67), Raffaele Cretaro (Jaanai Gordon 82).

Subs Not Used: Gary Armstrong, Tim Clancy, Chris Lyons, Mickey Place.

Booked: Craig Roddan (7), Jimmy Keohane (32), Gary Boylan (54)

Referee: Graham Kelly

Attendance: 1,525.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gary McCabe (Shamrock Rovers)

You can see Peter Fitzpatrick's photos from the game here.