John Martin's hat-trick sees Shelbourne edge thriller with Sligo Rovers

Damien Duff’s charges dug deep to repel everything that was thrown at them late on to hold on for three points.

THREE 'N' EASY: John Martin of Shelbourne with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick in his side's victory. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.

Shelbourne 3 Sligo Rovers 2

John Martin was the hero as Shelbourne got back to winning ways in a 3-2 thriller with Sligo Rovers at Tolka Park.

Gareth McElroy had given his side a surprise lead early on, but Martin hit back with three unanswered strikes to prove the matchwinner, despite star in the making Owen Elding setting up an extremely nervy ending.

The impressive visitors, who made just one change from the side that brilliantly overcame Galway United last week, got the dream start in the third minute. Gareth McElroy easily shrugged off his marker Kameron Ledwidge before confidently heading down past the helpless Lorcan Healy.

On his 100th appearance in red, Evan Caffrey tried desperately to level immediately after but saw his curling effort sail just over.

Irish under-21 International Jad Hakiki looked to get one over on his former side, cutting inside on his right foot and unleashing a thunderous strike that went inches wide.

The champions would grab the equaliser just after the half hour mark. Martin showed great movement in the area to get across Sligo stopper Sam Sargeant and calmly finish Caffrey’s delicious low cross from the left.

Just six minutes later, the hosts were ahead through the same combination that brought about the opener. Caffrey again cut inside onto his right and crossed to the back post to find Martin, who gladly headed home unchallenged.

Martin must have thought three points were on the way when he completed his hat-trick 13-minutes after the restart following a chaotic goalmouth scramble.

The home side's celebrations were cut short just a minute later when Owen Elding responded with a goal of the season contender, striking beautifully into the top corner from almost 30-yards out.

John Russell then threw the kitchen sink for the remaining minutes with a front two of Francely Lomboto and Wilson Waweru proving a handful and looking dangerous from set pieces.

But Damien Duff’s charges dug deep to repel everything that was thrown at them to hold on for three points.

Shelbourne: Healy; Coyle, Ledwidge, Wilson; O’Sullivan, McInroy, Lunney, Chapman, Caffrey; Wood (Odubeko, 70’), Martin (Kelly, 84’).

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Reynolds (Lintott, 46’), McElroy, Mahon, Hutchinson; Hakiki, Wolfe (Lomboto, 70’), Elding, Mallon (Manning, 46’), Fitzgerald; Kavanagh (Waweru, 70’).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin).