Simon Power brace secures win for Sligo over Shamrock Rovers

Power, on his first appearance since picking up a groin injury back in April netted twice from the bench to condemn the Dubliners to their second defeat on the bounce. While the result moves Sligo to within three points of their opponents.

A riveting first half produced a catalogue of chances at either end.

Both Richie Towell and Graham Burke went close in the opening ten minutes as the visitors impressed early on. Towell's full-volley fizzed past Ed McGinty's post as the Sligo defence stood still in expectation of an offside flag. While Burke dragged an effort across goal after Pijanker's last ditch block on Johnny Kenny deflected the ball towards Burke.

Sligo winger Fabrice Hartmann is due to return to parent club RB Leipzig next week and on his final appearance for the club, he forced Hoops net minder Pohls into a smart save with his feet following Hartmann's placed effort from the angle.

The hosts had their own purple patch mid-way through the second half. Ellis Chapman's speculative effort skimmed Pohls crossbar on 13 minutes. While Will Fitzgerald went close twice in quick succession nine minutes later.

Facing his boyhood club, Kenny looked like he would continue his recent goal-scoring spree on 24 minutes. The Riverstown native taking a Gary O'Neill through ball into his stride but could only drag his placed shot wide of McGinty's goal.

The Motherwell born goalkeeper saved Ollie Denham's blushes early in the second half when the latter made a mess of an attempted back-pass allowing Kenny to take possession. McGinty had different ideas however as he spread himself wide to deny the Celtic loanee.

Struggling to create much at this stage, Stephen Bradley sent on both Aaron McEneff and Jack Byrne while the experienced Aaron Greene was introduced shortly after. But it was a move from the Sligo bench that changed this game.

Substitute Power was less than four minutes on the pitch when he foraged a way to the end line before smacking a low drive beyond Pohls who probably should have done better in his attempts to keep out the Wicklow man.

There was nothing the floundering Pohls could do about Power's second seven from time. Power skipping his way past a Hoops defender before sending a sumptuous, twisting effort with the outside of his boot past the helpless keeper.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Ellis Chapman (Kalin Barlow 70), Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Will Fitzgerald (Owen Elding 94), Fabrice Hartmann (Simon Power 70); Wilson Waweru (Stefan Radosavljevic 78).

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Josh Honahan, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Nugent; Richie Towell (Trevor Clarke 77), Markus Poom; Gary O'Neill (Sean Hoare 77), Dylan Watts (Aaron McEneff 67), Conan Noonan (Jack Byrne 67) ; Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 77); Johnny Kenny.

Referee: Eoghan O'Shea 

Attendance: 3,187