Sligo Rovers begin their second series of matches in the Airtricity Premier Division against Shelbourne on Friday in The Showgrounds, kick-off 7:45pm.

The Bit o'Red are six points clear of St Patrick's Athletic at the top of the table after a 3-0 win against Shamrock Rovers last week. Rovers and Shels played out a dramatic encounter on the first day of the season when Jason McGuinness headed 10-man Sligo an injury-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw. Joseph Ndo is ruled out with injury for the Bit o' Red. The former Cameroon international will see a specialist on a hamstring complaint and is likely to be out for two more weeks.

There are no other injury or suspension concerns. Manager Ian Baraclough is backing his side to keep focused after an impressive start to the year. He said: "We've got a group of lads that are fully-focused long term and in it for the long haul. We have the beginning of a new series of matches now and we have set a standard in the first 11 games. If we don't a similar return in the second series of game we'll know we didn't reach the level that we can. "I have seen Shelbourne a couple of times and it is probably the hardest test we could get after the win last week. They'll be organised, hard-working and they have match winners in their team. "Joseph will see a specialist and he will probably be out for a couple of weeks. Apart from that we are at full-streng

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Sligo Rovers stretched their lead at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division to six points after a commanding 3-0 win over Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

A brace from Danny North and a first League of Ireland goal for David Cawley means Ian Baraclough's side retain their unbeaten status so far this season.

The Hoops had to play the majority of the second half without their full quota of players however as both Chris Turner and Graham Gartland saw red.

Report courtesy of rte.ie/mns..

Sligo were without playmaker Joseph Ndo due to a hamstring injury, but full-back Alan Keane returned to the first XI after recovering from a knee problem which kept him out of last week's win over Drogheda United.

Stephen Kenny had to plan for his first trip West as Hoops boss without striker Ciaran Kilduff, who is recovering from an operation on his metatarsal, while Ronan Finn and Ken Oman also missed out due to injury.

An entertaining first half began with Shamrock Rovers almost taking the lead with just seven minutes gone. Killian Brennan's through ball down the right found Gary Twigg, whose low shot was deflected away by Sligo 'keeper Gary Rogers.

David Cawley had Sligo's first chance of the game three minutes later, when he was unlucky to see his shot deflect away from goal as it took a deflection off a Shamrock Rovers defender.

Sligo were the better team throughout the opening exchanges and almost took the lead on 19 minutes when Mark Quigley's rasping shot from distance smacked Reyaad Pieterse's crossbar.

Considerable Sligo pressure took its toll on the Hoops rearguard on the half hour mark. Quigley's through ball finding Danny North who squeezed the ball between Pieterse and his front post.

If this didn't make the home support happy enough, the Bit O'Red doubled their lead six minutes later. Ross Gaynor's short corner was fisted away by Pieterse, only to fall to former Ipswich midfielder David Cawley. Cawley's shot from just outside the box dipped over the South African 'keeper and into the back of the net.

Sligo dominated the second half as the Tallaght side struggled with the numerical disadvantage. Gary McCabe's low cross with two minutes of the second period played found Twigg and his quick turn and shot forced Rogers into a save low down to his right, before Gavin Peers cleared the danger.

The champions looked as if they might have staged a comeback, but only five minutes into the second half disaster struck as Chris Turner was involved with an off-the-ball incident with Alan Keane, Tom Connolly showing the former Bohs man a straight red.

Both North and Romuald Boco passed up good chances for Sligo before Danny North put the result beyond doubt on 77 minutes as he again found space between Pieterse and the front post to put three goals between the sides.

Shamrock Rovers' afternoon went from bad to worse with five minutes left as Graham Gartland followed Turner down the tunnel. His foul on Cretaro resulting in his second caution of the game.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Romuald Boco, David Cawley, Danny Ventre, Ross Gaynor, Mark Quigley, Danny North.

Subs: Richard Brush, Martin Owens, Pascal Millien, Raffaele Cretaro (for Quigley '81), Lee Lynch (for Cawley 60'), Jake Dykes, John Dillon (for Boco 75').

Shamrock Rovers: Reyaad Pieterse, Kerrea Gilbert, Graham Gartland, Craig Sives, Gary McCabe, Chris Turner, Stephen Rice, Killian Brennan, Dayl Kavanagh, Gary Twigg.

Subs: Oscar Jansson, Gary O'Neill, Aaron Greene (for Kavanagh 66'), Colin Hawkins (for Sives 75'), Stephen O'Donnell, Billy Dennehy (for Powell 62'), Conor McCormack.

Sligo Rovers host Shamrock Rovers this Saturday at 1:45pm in The Showgrounds in the first meeting of the sides this year. The clash of the Rovers comes as the final match of the first series of games in 2012.

The Bit o’ Red have a five-point advantage over the Hoops after 10 matches having maintained an unbeaten start to the campaign.

There has been 200 previous meetings between the sides in all competitions with 48 wins for Rovers and 106 to the Hoops.

Sligo have won the last three games between the teams with every match last season proving a very tight affair.

Alan Keane is back for Rovers after overcoming a knee problem. Joseph Ndo is a doubt with a hamstring complaint.

Ian Baraclough said: “Both teams will look to win the game. The matches last year were very close and I think it could be quite cagey to begin with.

“It was important we had a positive outcome against Drogheda last week after the draw with St Pat’s. We did it without one or two key performers and I was very pleased with it.

“I don’t think Shamrock played particularly badly against UCD but 2-0 is a tricky lead sometimes and UCD fought back. They will have the same attitude as when we went to Drogheda, wanting to bounce back with a big performance.

“The changing kick-off times have not suited the supporters or the club and this week is something the players have to adjust to. The Showgrounds is at it’s best on a Saturday night but I know the fans will try to get behind us as best they can and hopefully they’ll see a good game between two of the best sides in the country.”

Ahead of this weekend's meeting, sligorovers.com looks back at last year's battles with Shamrock Rovers.

Rovers and Shams met several times last year with the Hoops dominating the ealry meetings, including a convincing win in the Setanta Cup. The Bit o' Red bounced back later in the year, including knocking Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup. But despite Rovers winning the last two league clashes, it was Michael O'Neill's side that would go on to win the league. Here are reports of the last three meetings.

Friday 24 June 2011

Goals in each half from Gavin Peers and Eoin Doyle saw Sligo Rovers defeat Shamrock Rovers for the first time in five attempts this year.

Peers headed up the opening goal of an exciting contest when he met Joseph Ndo’s corner with a firm finish shortly before half-time.

And top-scorer Doyle wrapped up the win for the hosts, when he raced onto substitute John Dillon’s excellent pass before rounding Alan Mannus and sliding the ball to the net.

Friday 9 September 2011

John Dillon headed a dramatic winner as Sligo Rovers kept themselves in the title race with a 2-1 win at Tallaght Stadium.

In a fiery encounter the Hoops finished with nine men but went 1-0 up with 30 minutes to go as Gary Twigg headed in Rohan Ricketts’ cross.

But John Russell’s spectacular finish and Dillon’s late header gave Sligo the points.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Eoin Doyle got the only goal of the game as Sligo Rovers dumped Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup at The Showgrounds.

The Sligo Rovers striker rattled the net with a first time effort on 22 minutes, as the Bit O’ Red defeated Shamrock Rovers for the third game in succession.

The holders had a moment of real anxiety in the four minutes of stoppage time, however, as Stephen O’Donnell’s free-kick looked to hit Sligo’s Gavin Peers on the arm.

Referee Alan Kelly was unconvinced though, and maybe there was a little bit of justice for the home side, who also had strong calls for a handball in the area waved away by Kelly at the start of the second half.