Shamrock Rovers 1
Sligo Rovers 0
THIRTY YEARS ON from the club’s final game in Milltown against Sligo Rovers in 1987, Shamrock Rovers carved out a vital 1-0 victory at its new home against the same opposition thanks to Brandon Miele’s fine low strike just after half-time.
Focus before kick-off lay primarily on marking the three-decade anniversary of the club’s final game at Glenmalure Park: a 1-1 FAI Cup semi-final first leg against the Bit O’Red.
With club legends from the serial-winning 80′s side such as Mick and Pat Byrne watching on from the stands of the club’s new home, the Hoops put aside their recent poor run of form with a levelled display which marks just their second win in five games.
Brandon Miele’s fine strike from distance, low into goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann’s bottom corner two minutes after the interval was the difference following a first half which saw Stephen Bradley’s side create numerous chances at goal but succeed in taking none.
Captain Ronan Finn, alongside strikers Gary Shaw and Graham Burke could not produce an end product to match defender Simon Madden’s litany of superb crosses inside the Sligo penalty area.
The game’s turning point came earlier when, after 23 minutes, Sligo’s John Russell was sent off by referee Neil Doyle for what was deemed a recklessly late sliding challenge on midfielder Roberto Lopes.
Rovers were keen to build on their one-man advantage this week following last Friday’s dramatic 2-1 defeat at the hands of ten-man Drogheda United.
Bradley’s side succeeded in maintaining the dominance displayed in the first half with free-reign of possession and chances at goal after the interval.
Were it not for repeated miraculous saves from goalkeeper Schlingermann, the night’s scoreline could have read significantly worse for Sligo, who parted ways with manager Dave Robertson last week, with Gary Shaw and Ronan Finn both denied by the fine acrobatics of the 25-year-old Mayo native.
Chances came in their droves for the Hoops late on, Shaw hitting the underside of the crossbar following another clinical Madden delivery, with goalscorer Miele also denied by the quick reactions of Schlingermann inside the area.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Tomer Chencinski, Simon Madden, David Webster, Daniel Devine (Sam Bone 82), Trevor Clarke, Ronan Finn, Roberto Lopes, Darren Meenan, Brandon Miele (James Doona 85), Graham Burke, Gary Shaw (Sean Boyd 73)
SLIGO ROVERS: Michael Schlingermann, Toby Adebayo-Rowling, Michael Leahy, Kyle McFadden, Craig Rodden, Gary Boylan, Jonah Ayunga, Liam Martin (Daniel Kearns 72), Kieran Sadlier, Raffaele Cretaro
