SHAMROCK ROVERS gained a measure of revenge for their FAI Cup defeat to Sligo Rovers last season, with a convincing 2-0 win in the Setanta Cup semi-final first leg.

Goals in each half from Ronan Finn and Karl Sheppard secured the win for Michael O’Neill’s men at the Showgrounds, ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Dublin.

And a night of misery for the home side was compounded by the sending-off of substitute John Russell for a sliding challenge on Pat Sullivan.

Finn opened the scoring on 27 minutes when he picked up possession in midfield and broke forward before crashing the ball into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Two minutes later, the home side lost striker Matthew Blinkhorn to injury, though his replacement, Raffaele Cretaro, did set up Richie Ryan for a shot on goal before the break, but the midfielder missed the target

Brendan Clarke denied Ronan Finn, Dean Kelly and Gary O’Neill with good second half saves, but he was finally beaten when Karl Sheppard nodded Pat Sullivan’s deep cross to the net from close range.

The Bit O’ Red’s miserable night was completed when Russell was shown a straight red for a late challenge on Sullivan.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Keane, Peers, Foran, Davoren, Doyle, Ndo, Ryan, Kirby (Russell 59), Greene (Dillon 71), Blinkhorn (Cretaro 29).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, Rice, McCormack, Sheppard (Kavanagh 88), Finn, Kelly (Dennehy 66), O’Neill (Kilduff 75).

REFEREE: A Kelly.