Sligo Rovers moved back into fourth in the eircom League Premier Division after a 3-0 defeat of Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds, in a game that saw five sendings-off.
Goals from Matthew Judge, Fahrudin Kuduzovic and Stephen Manson earned Rovers all three points despite the sending off of full-back Daniel Ventre.
Bray's Mark Duggan and Clive Delaney also saw red from referee Huge Whoriskey, while boss Eddie Gormley and assistant boss Keith Long were sent to the stands.
Bray had a nightmare start and fell behind after just three minutes. Goalkeeper Steve Williams will be in no rush to see the goal again after his scuffed kick at Gary Cronin's backpass rolled to Rovers striker Judge, who stroked the ball into the empty net.
But Eddie Gormley's men regrouped in encouraging fashion and had the better chances for the remainder of the half. But the period will be remembered for two straight red cards and an ugly confrontation between the sides on the half-hour mark.
Daniel Ventre's lunge tackle on Mark Duggan sparked the incident and referee Huge Whoriskey issued a straight red once he separated the full-back from the arguing players.
He then went back and also red-carded Duggan, presumably for retaliation, while Bray assistant boss Keith Long was also sent to the stands for remonstrating with fourth official Paul Deering.
Earlier on, Ventre had the first shot of the game but, after Judge's strike, Bray went close with efforts from free-taker Alan Cawley – a Sligo native – Gary McCabe and James O'Shea.
The latter should have had a penalty on 26 minutes when he appeared to be pulled back by Rovers defender Gavin Peers as he broke into the box and prepared to shot.
Bray remained positive after the interval and Clive Delaney almost got on the end of Cawley's free-kick in front of goal. Rovers, too, had chances with Fahrudin Kuduzovic exchanging a neat one-two with Judge in the area, only for Ray Kenny to get back and make the tackle.
They went even closer minutes later when Kuduzovic treaded a pass into captain Adam Hughes and his shot on the turn floated narrowly over.
But they did get through for a second when Cawley's slip in the middle allowed Rovers advance on the counter. Kuduzovic released Conor O'Grady who broke into the area despite being pulled and dragged by Clive Delaney.
The centre-back was red-carded but Bray will feel aggrieved that a spot-kick was awarded as the fouling occurred before O'Grady reached the area.
Nevertheless Kuduzovic stepped up to rattled home his ninth league goal of the year.
Substitute Stephen Manson added a third with a neat close range finish in the final minutes.
Sligo Rovers: Brush, Coleman, MacKenzie, Peers, Ventre, Cretaro, O’Grady, Boyd (Curran 75), Hughes, Kuduzovic (Manson 82), Judge (Cash 72). Subs not used: Foy, Tierney.
Bray Wanderers: Williams, Kenny, Delaney, Deans, Cronin (Gough 68), Kavanagh (Onwubika 59), Cawley (Georgescu 82), Duggan, McCabe, O’Shea, Fox. Subs not used: Mulroy.
