Healy and Grant fire Shamrock Rovers past Sligo

Matt Healy and Danny Grant struck before half-time as Shamrock Rovers eased to a 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers

Matt Healy of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Sligo Rovers. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 0, Shamrock Rovers 2 (Matt Healy 40, Danny Grant 45+1) 

SHAMROCK Rovers chalked up a comfortable 2-0 victory away to Sligo Rovers in the campaign’s first 'Clash of the Rovers'.

Goals in the last six minutes of the first-half from Matt Healy and Danny Grant meant that the dominant visitors were able to keep battling Sligo at arm’s length at The Showgrounds.

The 66th minute dismissal of Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes gave Sligo numerical advantage but they were unable to hurt last season’s double winners.

Both sides came into this fixture with contrasting form in their opening five games. Third-placed Shamrock Rovers had lost just once and the hosts, second from bottom in the standings, had won just once.

The visitors twice went close in the opening five minutes with efforts for Danny Grant. Sligo lifted this early siege with an off-target effort from Cian Kavanagh.

The next opportunity fell to Shamrock Rovers but Aaron Greene’s lob attempt was unable to catch out Sam Sargeant, who then stopped Danny Grant’s shot from another good attack.

The busy Grant volleyed over from close-range - Dylan Watts supplied the cross - as Shamrock Rovers continued to knock on the door.

Sligo had a glimpse of goal after 36 minutes when Ryan O’Kane cut in but he lashed a shot well over.

The breakthrough finally came for Shamrock Rovers in the 40th minute when a fine passing phase ended with a rifled, low finish from midfielder Matt Healy.

Shamrock Rovers doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time. A corner from Jack Byrne was only partially cleared to the edge of the area and Danny Grant netted with a first-time hooked volley.

Shamrock Rovers continued to exert control in the second-half.

It took a rare defensive lapse from Shamrock Rovers to give Sligo a hint of goal but Cian Kavanagh found himself at an unfavourable angle to trouble Ed McGinty.

Excellent work from Tunmise Sobowale then set up John McGovern’s goalbound effort which was stopped by Sam Sargeant - Aaron Greene flashed the rebound wide.

Shamrock Rovers went down to 10 players in the 66th minute when Roberto Lopes picked up a second booking. Alex Nolan got the subsequent free-kick on target as the Bit O’Red sensed a way back.

There were late chances for Sligo for Seb Quirk and Cian Kavanagh but Shamrock Rovers kept their goal intact.

SLIGO ROVERS: Sergeant; Esua, McHale (Denham 90+5), McElroy, Fitzgerald; Quirk, McManus (Traore 72); Nolan, Patton (Harkin 46), O’Kane; Kavanagh 

SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Sobowale, Lopes, Grace, O’Sullivan, Grant (Brennan 78); Watts (O’Sullivan 83), Healy, Byrne (Ozhianvuna 63); Greene (Noonan 63), McGovern (Matthews 78) 

Referee: Robert Harvey 

Attendance: 3,065