Gritty Sligo hold Shamrock Rovers to earn precious point in dogfight
Michael Noonan of Shamrock Rovers in action against Patrick McClean of Sligo Rovers during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
SLIGO Rovers and Shamrock Rovers played out an epic 2-2 draw at The Showgrounds.
This outcome stalled Rovers’ surge for silverware as they had to come back from two goals down and hard-working Sligo belied their position at the other end of the table.
Jad Hakiki’s brace put Sligo ahead but Rovers rescued a draw - their seventh stalemate of the campaign - with goals from Dan Cleary and Josh Honohan.
THE third clash of the season involving the top flight’s two Rovers, Sligo and Shamrock, brought together two sides with severely contrasting fortunes Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers, top of the table, had won eight of their previous 10 games, with Sligo second from bottom in the table and, although showing an improvement in form, were still in a precarious position.
The hosts featured four new faces in their matchday squad, with three of these starting, including loan signings Ryan O’Kane and James McManus, who joined Sligo from Shelbourne and Bohemians respectively.
Rovers dominated possession from the off. Matthew Healy and Graham Burke both fizzed shots narrowly wide inside the opening five minutes to warn the home side.
Sligo, who showed plenty of grit, went ahead in the ninth minute. Will Fitzgerald, who captained the team in the absence of John Mahon and deputising at left-back, took a corner short to Jake Doyle-Hayes and his tempting cross was converted by Jad Hakiki’s headed finish.
Sligo, who were fortunate that a couple of dangerous Rovers build-ups broke down at the final ball, ought to have doubled their lead in the 22nd minute.
Pressure forced a Rovers turnover and Ryan O’Kane set up Wilson Waweru for a shot that Ed McGinty blocked.
Two minutes later it was 2-0. Owen Elding’s deft pass released Jad Hakiki and he cut into the Rovers penalty area before slotting a precise shot beyond McGinty.
Graham Burke’s well-struck attempt to bring Rovers back into it was brilliantly kept out by Sam Sargeant.
But Rovers got a goal back in the 33rd minute through a Dan Cleary header after Rovers kept a move alive when a Graham Burke free-kick came off the Sligo wall.
Rovers hemmed in their opponents for the remainder of the half but a Josh Honohan header - that was narrowly wide - was their best opportunity to level matters.
The Dublin club went close again early in the second-half through a Matthew Healy shot.
A fantastic double-save from Sam Sargeant denied Danny Mandroiu and Danny Grant when Rovers looked certain to score on both occasions.
Sergeant pulled off another save - this time to stop Rory Gaffney - but the move was kept alive and Dylan Watts’ delivery to the back post was headed in by Josh Honohan for a 63rd minute equaliser.
Sligo could have retaken the lead in the 87th minute but Francely Lomboto lofted the ball over Ed McGinty’s goal after breaking through the Rovers cover.
Sergeant; Reynolds, Denham, McClean, Fitzgerald; McManus (Quirk 60), Doyle-Hayes; Elding (Kavanagh 85), Hakiki, O’Kane (McDonagh 90+1); Waweru (Lomboto 60)
McGinty; Grant, Grace, Lopes, Cleary, Honohan (Kovalevskis 75); Healy, Watts (Byrne 64), Mandroiu (McEneff 87); Burke (Noonan 64), Gaffney (McGovern 75)
Paul McLaughlin
Attendance: 3,359
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