Sligo Rovers shocked champions Bohemians with a 1-0 win at The Showgrounds on Tuesday night.

Alan Keane’s 16th minute penalty conversion, after Raffaele Cretaro was fouled by Jason McGuinness, earned Rovers a valuable and surprise three points in their bid to stave off relegation.

The tempo was high from the start, with the home side keen to put pressure on the league-leaders.

Rovers created an early chance when Matthew Blinkhorn flashed a header over the top from Eoin Doyle’s cross, and they continued to shade the opening exchanges, and got the breakthrough on 16 minutes.

Rovers created a couple of other chances after that as well with the lively Conor O’Grady twice going close with the headers. The first was deflected off a Bohs defender for a corner, while the second was straight at Murphy.

But the visitors were on top by the end of the half, with Killian Brennan’s free-kick forcing a decent save off Brush.
The champions created a succession of corners in the final five minutes, and Brush was forced to block from Joseph Ndo after he had fumbled Anto Murphy’s long throw.

Mark Rossiter also had an effort on goal when the ball dropped invitingly for him just inside the area, but the Sligo native was unable to keep his shot down.

Matthew Blinkhorn’s low shot at the start of the second half forced Murphy into an early save.

Blinkhorn then tried to turn provider, but his pass into the path of an unmarked O’Grady carried too much pace.

Eoin Doyle went close with a low shot after a blistering run through the middle, but Rovers had a lucky escape on 65 minutes, when Keane’s attempted clearance rebounded of Boco and hit the crossbar.

Bohs were back in the ascendancy at this stage, and Brush was forced to pull off a fine double save to stop Rossiter’s stinging shot from outside the box, and Jason Byrne’s follow-up just six yards out.

Nevertheless Rovers held on for a win that takes them up to eighth.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Romuald Boco, Gavin Peers, Alan Keane, Joe Kendrick, Brian Cash (Richie Ryan 61), Conor O’Grady (captain), Danny Ventre, Eoin Doyle, Matthew Blinkhorn (Rob Turner 78), Raffaele Cretaro.
Subs not used: Dean Marshall, Martin Camano, Ciaran Kelly.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy, Mark Rossiter, Brian Shelley (captain), Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell, Anto Murphy (Neale Fenn 79), Paul Keegan, Joseph Ndo, Killian Brennan (Gary Deegan 61), Jason Byrne, Glen Crowe (Patrick Madden 76).
Subs not used: Glenn Cronin, Matt Gregg.

Referee: Thomas Connolly (Dublin).