At Tallaght Stadium yesterday evening, Shamrock Rovers ascended to fifth spot in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division rankings, courtesy of a sound triumph over Sligo Rovers, who were reduced to playing with only 10 men. The spectacle saw Johnny Kenny, a former Sligo player, return in style as he contributed heavily to Sligo’s downfall.
In a performance that echoed his previous spell at Shamrock Rovers, Johnny Kenny struck twice in the opening half, paving the way for Sean Hoare to emulate with a brace of his own in the second half. This win drives Shamrock Rovers to just a single point beneath Waterford and Sligo – the two sides maintaining the third and fourth spots – despite having played two games less.
Before aligning himself with Scottish Premiership team Celtic in January 2022, Kenny showcased his talent in 34 matches for his home-town team, Sligo, where he pocketed 12 goals. His return to Shamrock Rovers for a second loan spell showed promise as he inaugurated the scoring in the 18th minute, following a splendid cross by Trevor Clarke who was fed an excellent diagonal pass by Jack Byrne.
Even though Ed McGinty, Sligo’s goalkeeper, managed to get his hand on the delivery, Kenny’s header found its way to the back of the net. Kenny then had an opportunity to extend their lead, but the shot-stopper redeemed himself by denying his former colleague.
However, Kenny remained the main protagonist in Shamrock Rovers’ offensive, and took advantage of Gareth McElroy’s slipup to double their lead 2 minutes before the break. Although Sligo Rovers’ Simon Power was fouled outside the penalty area by Leon Pohls, the referee let the Shamrock Rovers’ goalie off with only a yellow card.
Adding to Sligo’s misery, Jack Henry-Francis was sent off for an offensive act against Gary O’Neill, which made the uphill task even steeper for the visitors. Despite this, Sean Hoare found it appropriate to hit a double in the 64th and 83rd minutes, securing a comprehensive victory for the home team.
In a thrilling clash at the Regional Sports Centre, Waterford sustained their quest for continental football with a 2-1 victory over Dundalk, who continue to be anchored at the foot of the Premier Division table after a gruelling week. Sam Bellis and Padraig Amond were the scorers for Waterford.
The rosters for both Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers displayed dynamic changes in their line-ups. The home side’s team included Pohls, Cleary, Lopes, Hoare, with Burns being replaced by Farrugia after 46 minutes, Watts swapped out for Poom around the 69th minute, and O’Neill, Clarke switched out for Honohan. Mandroiu made way for Noonan while Kenny yielded his place to McNulty in the 61st minute.
As for Sligo Rovers, it included McGinty, Wilson, McElroy, Denham, Hutchinson, and Henry-Francis. Malley was substituted by Barlow at the 75 minute mark. Power and Chapman were on the roll too, with Power being replaced by Mallon. Fitzgerald was replaced by McDonagh in the last minutes, and Waweru left to be replaced by Pearce on the 69th minute.
The match was officiated by K.O’Sullivan hailing from Cork.