Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 1
Johnny Kenny came back to haunt his former side at Tallaght Stadium as his opening-half goal helped champions Shamrock Rovers to squeeze past the challenge of Sligo Rovers.
While his hometown club threatened in the early stages, Riverstown native Kenny got the hosts up and running on 19 minutes. From a ball over the top by his fellow loanee Markus Poom, the Republic of Ireland under-21 international fired past Sligo netminder Luke McNicholas.
Although the visitors twice went close to grabbing an equaliser through New Zealand centre- forward Max Mata, Kenny’s smooth finish separated the teams at the interval.
Sligo continued to show plenty of endeavour on the resumption, but their more clinical opponents ultimately doubled the advantage in the 64th minute. After the subtle vision of Jack Byrne set him free on the left flank, Trevor Clarke buried the ball beyond the reach of McNicholas.
Sligo midfielder Greg Bolger became the second player to score against his old club with a deflected goal just inside the final quarter. This offered renewed hope to his current outfit, but the third-placed Hoops held firm to move within four points of league leaders Bohemians.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Lopes, Cleary, Grace; Farrugia, O’Neill, Poom (Towell, 57), Clarke; Byrne, Burke (Nugent, 83); Kenny (Greene, 72).
SLIGO ROVERS: McNicholas; Brannefalk (Cawley, 78), Clancy (Lafferty, 66), Pijnaker, Hutchinson; Morahan, Bolger (Browning, 78); Liivak, Barlow (Radosavljevic, 59), Fitzgerald; Mata.
Referee: D MacGraith (Mayo).