TEN-MAN Shamrock Rovers maintained top spot of the Airtricity League Premier Division with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over a disappointing Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

It was the league leaders’ fourth successive victory over the Westeners following a league win in The Showgrounds back in March followed up by their two victories in the Setanta Sports Cup semi-finals last month.  

With Shamrock Rovers adopting a five man midfield to stifle Sligo’s renowned passing game, it was the league leaders who created the first opportunity as Karl Sheppard drove over the crossbar following clever approach play by Gary McCabe in the 10th minute.

Sheppard, in a rich vein of scoring form of late, went close again eight minutes later by his header from ten yards had too much elevation and lobbed harmlessly over the visitors’ crossbar.

Sligo were struggling to create any genuine chances with an uncharacteristically sloppy performance with their only opportunity spurned by Matthew Blinkhorn on the half hour as his header from Raffaele Cretaro’s cross lacked direction and sailed comfortably wide of Alan Mannus’ left-hand post.

Sheppard showed him the way five minutes later when the former Galway United player found space in the penalty area to superbly divert Conor McCormack’s inviting cross past a wrong-footed Brendan Clarke in the Sligo goal.

The second-half was a livelier affair with Sligo showing greater attacking intent but they struggled to break down a disciplined home defence with the Dubliners happy to absorb any pressure while looking to threaten on the counter-attack.

From one such breakaway, Finn found Gary O’Neill in acres of space but with the striker in splendid isolation, he lacked sufficient support with his ensuing shot too close to Clarke who gathered comfortably.

In the 84th minute with the Hoops comfortably repelling the sporadic Sligo attacks, Ken Oman received a second yellow card for a block on Rogers’ attempted clearance and Sligo roused themselves for the final ten minutes.

Both Alan Kirby and Blinkhorn went close as did Ciaran Kilduff at the opposite end but Shamrock Rovers saw out the game with relative ease to claim the precious three points on offer.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens; Sheppard, Rice, Finn, McCormack (Turner, 81), McCabe (Dennehy, 63); O’Neill (Kilduff, 73).

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Keane, Foran, McGuinness, Davoren; Doyle, Ventre (Russell, 79), Ryan, Cretaro (Greene, 63); Ndo (Kirby, 75), Blinkhorn.  

Referee: Alan Buttimer (Cork)