Shamrock Rovers smash Sligo to claim valuable points in race for ...

Johnny Kenny's double had the Hoops in control before Jack Henry-Francis saw red, with Sean Hoare adding a brace of his own through two well taken headers.

With a quarter of an hour played Irish under-21 International Kenny broke the deadlock against his former side when Jack Byrne delivered a quick switch of play finding Trevor Clarke on the left. Clarke wasted no time, whipping in a beautiful ball for the front man to head home - who refused to celebrate out of respect.

Kenny missed a glorious chance moments later failing to take advantage of a sloppy Gareth McElroy pass, finding himself with a clear path to goal only to be stopped bravely by Ed McGinty.

Just before the break, the 21-year-old did get his second from another McElroy error who took a wild swing at a through ball, allowing the front man another one-on-one and made no mistake smashing past the onrushing McGinty.

Moments later John Russell and his staff were furious when Leon Pohls came rushing out, and made a mess of his own clearance with the ball falling to ex-Hoop Simon Power. But just as the attacker was about to pull the trigger, the Rovers keeper brought him down just outside the area. There was no red card forthcoming, with the German keeper's case probably helped by the recovering defenders, much to the dismay of the Sligo fans and players alike.

Danny Mandroiu should have put the game to bed just after the restart as he found himself unmarked 12 yards out, but surprisingly skied substitute Neil Farrugia’s cut back with the goal at his mercy.

It was all Sligo then who tried desperately to get back in the game but became an insurmountable task when Henry-Francis received his marching orders for a late challenge on Gary O’Neill.

Hoare headed home shortly after the dismissal to safely secure the points before netting a late fourth to put his side fifth, a point behind the visitors.

Shamrock Rovers FC: Leon Pohls; Sean Hoare, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary; Darragh Burns (Neil Farrugia, 45’), Dylan Watts (Markus Poom, 69’), Gary O’Neill, Jack Byrne, Trevor Clarke (Joshua Honohan, 45’); Danny Mandroiu (Conan Noonan, 69’), Johnny Kenny (Marc McNulty, 61’) 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Oliver Denham, Gareth McElroy 5, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow, 75’), Jack Henry-Francis; Simon Power (Stephen Mallon, 75’), Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald (Kyle McDonagh, 89’); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce, 69’) 

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)