| Bit O'Red supreme in battle of the Rovers |
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| Saturday, 28 July 2007 | |
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Sligo Rovers ended Shamrock Rovers nine game unbeaten run with what was a gritty second half performance that yielded two goals and three vital points. It was no more than the home side deserved as they were both the hungrier and more inventive side in a half that made up for what was a forgettable first forty five.
The home side had two changes from the hard fought victory in Waterford with Brian Cash and Mark Boyd coming in for Stephen Manson and the suspended Raffaele Cretaro. It was a sluggish first half with the mainstay being set-pieces and half chances. Rovers were the first to set pulses racing when on seven minutes a Kudozovic free kick found Judge but his effort flick flashed wide. Another set piece on nineteen minutes, this time a Cash corner from the right, was met by Peers and he directed it to the far post where Conor O’Grady headed it over from close range. The visitors front men looked lively though and despite limited service had Rovers on the back foot on the half hour when Cassidy set up O’Connor but there was no venom in his shot. Shamrock Rovers ended the half the brighter, but despite good build-up play, they failed to warm Brush’s gloves. The second forty five had barely got under way when Tadhg Purcell got clear of McKenzie raiding goalward but the young Scot recovered to deny him brilliantly despite the protests of the visitors, who appealed for the referee to point to the penalty spot. Minutes later, Purcell got on the end of a set-piece from the left, but his effort went wide. The level of the game was raised more than a notch as both sides sought to impose themselves on the match. On fifty five minutes, Conor O’Grady almost made up for his first half miss when he rose highest at the far post to direct a Kudozovic free on target, but Murphy got up to tip over. Two minutes later O’Grady blocked down an attempted clearance by Lawrence running clear into the box, doing everything right, firing a shot to Murphys left, but the ‘keeper was again equal to it. The Bit O’Red continued to put the pressure on the visitors and it paid dividends on seventy three minutes when the deadlock was broken. Coleman brilliantly picked it up on the right, cutting inside his man before switching the direction of the ball towards Matt Judge whose low ball across the six yard box looked like it was going miss the incoming posse of Rovers players before Adam Hughes slid in at the back post to give the home side a deserved lead. It took less than five more minutes for the Rovers to extend their lead and once again, Seamus Coleman and Matt Judge were at the centre of things again. The yound Killybegs man surged forward, playing a neat one-two with Stephen Manson before continuing into the old shed end and pulling back a pinpoint pass to Matt Judge at the edge of the box and the former Tottenham Hotspur directed the ball almost nonchalantly into the top left hand corner. The visitors had another claim for a penalty at the other end, but rather than sitting on their lead, Paul Cook’s charges were hungry for more unit a clear signal of intent came from the bench as the manager replaced Judge with Keith Foy It was a mature performance as they played for the corner, took the air out of the tyres and wound down the clock to secure a second victory in three encounter with the Hoops. Next up for Rovers is the trip to Cork to play the Leesiders on Friday night next. Sligo Rovers Subs not used:, Michael Creane, Glen McCormack Shamrock Rovers Subs not used: Padraig Ammond, John McGuinness Referee: Pat Whelan |
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