David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Shamrock Rovers recovered from two goals down to claim a draw with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds as their winless streak at the Showgrounds stretched to four. 

A Jad Hakiki double was halved by a Dan Cleary goal on 33 minutes, Sligo leading at the break. 

Josh Honahan then equalised just past the hour as the Dubliners were expected to push on and extend their lead at the summit of the Premier Division. But impressive defending from the home side saw Sligo claim a valuable point in their mission to avoid the drop, extending their unbeaten home run to three games. 

The hosts could have won this tie late on, but Francely Lomboto could only fire over in a one-on-one with Ed McGinty. 

Armed with four new signings, Sligo boss John Russell gave club debuts to two of his recent acquisitions.  

Loanees Ryan O’Kane and James McManus were included in a Sligo eleven for the first time. While the returning Paddy McClean, whose last game for Sligo was against this same opposition back on the final day of the 2018 season, started his second second stint in the north west at the heart of the defence. Former Everton youth Seb Quirk was named on the bench.

Trying to extend their lead at the top to eleven points, the visitors made just the one change. Striker Rory Gaffney was rewarded for his match winning goal against Waterford, coming in for Michael Noonan. Striker John McGovern, who was signed from Dungannon back in May started from the bench.  

Chasing a first win at the Showgrounds since summer 2023, it was the Dubliners who created the early openings. Some wonderful one-touch football from both sides owed to a breathless opening half of football with both Matt Healy and Graham Burke going close for the Hoops. 

But it was a rampant Bit O’Red who opened the scoring here. Will Fitzgerald unsettled the Shamrock Rovers rearguard with a clever short corner, finding Jake Doyle-Hayes. The Cavan man in turn picked out the late arrival of Hakiki to the front post, the former Dundalk man unmarked, nodding past McGinty. 

The impressive Danny Grant looked set to level this game on 22 but lost control of the ball in front of the Sligo goal, following a sublime crossfield ball from Mandroiu.

Stephen Bradley’s charges were made to regret the error two minutes later. 

Golden boy Owen Elding, who has been reportedly tracking interest from clubs all over Europe added to his value with a skillful through ball to Hakiki. Turning inside and instead of using Wilson Waweru who found himself in ample space, Hakiki elected to instead go himself and was rewarded for backing himself as he slotted past McGinty for his brace. 

The Tallaght men had a shout for a spot-kick turned down when Honohan and Conor Reynolds tangled on Sligo’s end line, while Burke pulled a sharp, two-handed stop from Sam Sargeant 60 seconds later.

The 2023 champions found a way back into the game 12 minutes from the break. Burke’s initial free-kick was recycled back into the Sligo box by Mandroiu and on to the head of Cleary who headed past Sargeant from close-range. 

Sligo were almost caught out by a short corner themselves early in the second period. Sargeant got down in time to get in front of a Healy drive from 20 yards after Mandroiu and Dylan Watts combined. 

Sargeant then pulled off a superb double save, first from Mandroiu and then Grant as the visitors applied the pressure after the re-start.  

The visitors; pressing told on 63 minutes when the on-coming Honohan smashed home Watt’s curling cross from the right, beyond Sargeant at the back post.  

Momentum with them, Shamrock Rovers failed to test Sargeant who was well protected by a determined Sligo defence. 

In fact, it was the hosts who could have won this three minutes from time. 

Substitute Lomboto lacked composure as he attempted to chip ex-Sligo net minder McGinty. Lomboto’s rushed finish saw him sky his effort well over goal at the old Shed End instead. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds, Paddy McClean, Ollie Denham, Will Fitzgerald; James McManus (Seb Quirk 60), Jake Doyle-Hayes; Jad Hakiki; Owen Elding (Cian Kavanagh 85), Ryan O’Kane (Kyle McDonagh 91); Wilson Waweru (Francely Lomboto 60). 

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary; Danny Grant, Josh Honohan (Maxim Kovalevskis 76); Matt Healy, Dylan Watts (Jack Byrne 63), Danny Mandroiu (Aaron McEneff 87); Rory Gaffney (John McGovern 76), Graham Burke (Michael Noonan 64). 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.  

Attendance: 3,359.