Gaffney goal increases Rovers’ lead at the top

Daire Walsh

Rory Gaffney struck a 26th-minute goal at The Showgrounds last night to earn champions Shamrock Rovers a 1-0 victory against Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

As a result of this win, the Hoops are now six points clear of St Patrick’s Athletic at the summit of the top-flight with a game still in hand on their Dublin rivals.

Having waited so long to play one of his side’s back matches, Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley will be thrilled to finally create daylight between themselves and their closest challengers.

A trip to Sligo has often proved to be a tricky assignment for Rovers and this is particularly true in 2021.

Managed by Perrystown’s Liam Buckley – himself a former Hoops player and manager – they currently occupy third place in the Premier Division table, seven points clear of Derry City.

Very effective in the lone striker role, Gaffney had an early sight of goal and was unfortunate to see his effort turned away by Ed McGinty.

Richie Towell’s follow-up strike flew over the crossbar, but Gaffney had far greater luck from a similar situation just past the first-quarter mark.

O’Neill tried his luck from distance and while McGinty was equal to his piledriver, the ball fell into the path of Gaffney and the Galway native made no mistake from a right-hand angle.

Although Ronan Finn was denied by McGinty before the end of the half, the Hoops were nonetheless 1-0 to the good at the interval.

The visitors continued to press on the resumption and Gaffney was agonisingly close to doubling not only his tally, but that of Rovers as well, from a close-in header.

As the final whistle approached, Sligo had their fair share of possession as they sought to place a dent in their opponents’ title surge.

However – despite losing club captain Finn to injury – the back-to-back chasing Shamrock Rovers held out in advance of their top-of-the-table clash with St Pat’s at Richmond Park on Friday.