Sligo Rovers picked up a first win against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in nine attempts as a wonderful performance from the Bit O’Red saw the visitors pick up the points required to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
Ollie Denham’s first goal for the club could not have arrived at a more important time as his header from a deflected Ryan O’Kane shot flew past stand-in Hoops goalkeeper Lee Steacy.
Owen Elding’s 53rd minute penalty was followed by a consolation goal from Shams’ full back Adam Matthews, but Rovers held on to secure their most vital three points of the season.
The result means Rovers finish the season in a hugely respectable seventh spot, having picked up 29 points from 18 games played after the mid-season break.
Facing the newly-crowned champions, Rovers were forced into a late change at left full, with prospect Kyle McDonagh replacing Sean Stewart in the starting eleven after the Belfast man sustained a knock in the warm up.
Indeed, Rovers were disrupted by injury again on the quarter and half hour when midfield pair James McManus and Seb Quirk were withdrawn through knocks.
Despite this, Sligo went at their hosts, as promised by manager John Russell in his pre-match comments.
Goal-scorer Denham tested Steacy early on with a speculative effort from 30 yards after Shams failed to clear a short corner. Will Fitzgerald, one of Rovers’ most consistent players this term and leading by example again on Saturday, delivered a sumptuous ball on to the head of O’Kane on 13 minutes. But the on loan winger could only nod straight into the arms of the grateful Steacy as Rovers continued to carve open the champions.
The deserved lead arrived on 38 minutes when O’Kane’s attempt at goal looped into the air courtesy of a touch off a defender. Denham was quickest off the mark to rise and head the wayward ball beyond Stacey for his first goal for the club.
Jad Hakiki enjoyed another stellar showing in red and along with Fitzgerald was involved in Rovers’ second when they combined to send O’Kane into the Shamrock penalty area. O’Kane’s run abruptly brought to an end when Lee Grace stepped across the Dubliner’s path, resulting in referee Rob Hennessy awarding the spot kick which Elding dispatched.
Again buoyed and backed by a huge travelling support, Rovers were pinned back for a short time after Stephen Bradley emptied his bench, introducing experience in the shape of Dylan Watts, Matt Healy and Roberto Lopes around the same time as the Dubliners halved Rovers’ lead.
Full back Matthews blasting an impressive drive from distance off Sam Sargeant’s post and beyond the Rovers net-minder on 62.
Sargeant had to be on his game for the final half hour and pulled off a wonderful acrobatic stop on 68 minutes when Matt Healy’s cushioned effort looked like it might sail over the Englishman.
Well marshalled by a well organised Rovers back line, Shams could only come up with half-chances as a disciplined Rovers held on for a season defining result.
The final result of the season sees Rovers finish on 41 points in seventh, while Waterford head into the promotion/relegation play-off. Cork City are relegated.
Shamrock Rovers: Lee Steacy, Adam Matthews (Roberto Lopes, 64), Lee Grace, Egor Vssenin; Sean Kavanagh (Dylan Watts, 64), Darragh Nugent, Trevor Clarke, Cian Barrett, Aaron McEneff (Matt Healy, 64); Graham Burke (Danny Grant, 77), John McGovern (Michael Noonan, 86).
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Edwin Agbaje (Conor Reynolds, 71), Ollie Denham, Patrick McClean, Kyle McDonagh; Seb Quirk (Daire Patton, 31), James McManus (Ciaron Harkin, 16); Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki, Ryan O’Kane (Cian Kavanagh, 71); Owen Elding.
Referee: Rob Hennessy.
David Goulden