Rovers  (1) 1  - Sheppard 35'   
Sligo Rovers (0) 0 -            
 

Airtricity League - Tallaght Stadium - Friday 6th May 2011 

Hoops Line out
1 Alan Mannus
2 Pat Sullivan
3 Enda Stevens
17 Ken Oman
5 Dan Murray (c)
6 Stephen Rice
21 Ronan Finn
22 Conor McCormack
7 Gary McCabe
19 Gary O'Neill
10 Karl Sheppard

Alan Mannus..vital late save for Rovers

Rovers claimed another three points off Sligo with Karl Sheppard on the mark again for his fourth league goal in four games. Ken Oman was harshly sent off in the 82nd minute and Alan Mannus made a point blank save to deny Blinkhorn in added-on time.

The Hoops played into the Square end with a fairly strong wind at their backs in the first half and were met by a defensive 4-1-4-1 Sligo formation.

The game got off to a sluggish start with O'Neill crossing for McCabe in the 8th minute but the ex-Sligo player couldn't direct his header on goal. Two minutes later some good work by McCabe saw the ball fall for Sheppard just outside the box but his shot went just over 'keeper Clarke's cross-bar.

On 18 minutes a Ronan Finn low cross into the area was deflected into the air and Sheppard headed over the bar although McCabe was in a better position to shoot.

After 22 minutes Gary McCabe was fouled 25 yards out and he took the kick himself only to see Clarke save at the second attempt. The visitors only attempt on goal in the opening 25 minutes was a low Ryan corner that was well defended.

On 31 minutes McCabe played a fine ball for Finn to run onto in the box on the right and his low cross was well taken by Clarke. Two minutes later the Sligo 'keeper was relieved to see his clearance hit Sheppard but rebound safely back.

Rovers got a deserved break on 35 minutes when Conor McCormack raided down the left hand side and he picked out Sheppard with a fine cross and the Hoops number 10 buried his header into the corner of the net.

It was a fine goal that lit up what had been a sterile game and it forced Sligo to amend their tactics. Sullivan found McCabe in acres of space on the right after 40 minutes and his cross was met by O'Neill but Keane got across to block his shot.

Just before the break Pat Sullivan cleared a cross from Blinkhorn and Alan Mannus was alert to claim an Ndo ball into the area.

Unsurprisingly the visitors made a brighter start to the second-half but the Hoops defence coped well with the early pressure. On 58 minutes Gary McCabe sent Sheppard away into the area on the left but Clarke saved his angled shot.

Sligo had better possession of the ball as the half progressed but Rovers battled well to deny them any real chances. On 70 minutes Dan Murray made a fine interception to deny substitute Greene a run on goal.

Rovers rarely threatened in the second half and despite Ronan Finn's skill down the right on 78 minutes his final shot went wide of Clarke's right-hand post.

A Billy Dennehy free-kick on 83 minutes was claimed by Clarke under pressure and Referee Buttimer awarded a free-out even though the 'keeper had safely claimed the ball. As he took the free-kick 5 or 6 yards from where the original free was awarded the ball struck Ken Oman and the Referee brandished another yellow card to the unfortunate Hoops defender.

It made for a grandstand finish to the game and Kirby forced Mannus to save his low shot but substitute Ciaran Kilduff almost made it safe for Rovers when he raced on to a through ball to head past Clarke but his shot from the left hand side of the area hit the side-netting.

Ryan shot over the bar in the 87th minute before a last gasp attempt for the equaliser saw Russell slip the ball into the path of Blinkhorn in front of goal but big Alan Mannus advanced to beat away his point-blank effort to the relief of the Tallaght faithful.