Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 1 | Airtricity League

Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 1

Thursday, 12 March 2009 21:36

Gary Twigg and Dessie Baker gave Shamrock Rovers the perfect start to life in Tallaght as the two scored either side of half-time to crush the challenge of Sligo Rovers.

The pair put the icing the cake of a night of celebration on Whitestown Way, as a 22-year journey finally ended in the best possible way, although it could have been different if Sligo had been able to add to Gavin Peers’ late strike.

3,500 people thronged into the League of Ireland’s newest venue and there were many more catching the game live on television in the adjacent Maldron Hotel. And they weren’t disappointed as the result went their way despite the late jitters.

For striker Twigg, he had what could only be described as the dream home debut and he could have had a hat-trick within the opening 26 minutes. He had the ball in the net on three occasions, but only one of them reached the record books.

The other two were disallowed with the first being ruled out when the Scotsman was flagged for being offside and the second was struck off when Dessie Baker was penalised for pushing just before Twigg found the net.

The meat in the sandwich of those two efforts was sublime and there was no way Alan Kelly could do anything else but point to the centre circle. After Robinson’s free-kick found the head of Webb and then Price, Twigg, with his back to goal, managed to loop a left footed volley back across goal and into the top corner.

If the home faithful were still a little apprehensive, although how could they have been on such a celebratory night, those nerves evaporated just after the break when the heroes doubled their advantage.

Another new boy, Ollie Cahill, made a trademark run to the by-line and his pinpoint cross was side footed home by Baker, who looked keen to get in on the act from very early on in the night. Peers got in on the act late on with his goal, but the visitors couldn’t force a second.

“Welcome to Tallaght. Welcome to the future,” were the words of the announcer as the teams took to the pitch at Tallaght and after this it looks like that future will be a bright one.

Shamrock Rovers: Murphy; Madden, Webb, Price, Bermingham; Bradley (Doyle, 86), Robinson, Rice, Cahill; Twigg (Cameron 88), , Baker (Purcell, 68).

Sligo Rovers: Brush; Noctor (McTiernan, 81), Peers, Ventre, Holmes; Cash (Parkhouse, 58), Ryan (Torpey, 58), O’Grady, Morrison; Boco, Cretaro.

Ref: A Kelly (Cork).

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