Shamrock Rovers moved to five points off the Premier Division leaders with a 3-0 demolition of Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.
Padraig Amond hit a double within four first half minutes, the first after Stephen Bradley’s fine cut back and the second a shot from outside the area.
Shane Robinson sealed the win from the penalty spot on 70 minutes after he was fouled.
Rovers had captain Conor O’Grady sent off on 77 minutes and substitute Stephen Parkhouse saw a penalty saved by Barry Murphy in the closing stages.
Both sides made a couple of changes to the teams that were successful in the EA Sports Cup during the week. For the home side, Danny Ventre and Brian Cash earned recalls, while captain Shane Robinson and top-scorer Gary Twigg were back in the Hoops’ line-up.
The visitors opened the scoring on 24 minutes, when Stephen Bradley did brilliantly to direct Shane Robinson’s crossfield ball across the face of goal, and the inrushing Amond swept the ball home.
They doubled their advantage through Amond again, when he fired into the bottom corner on 28 minutes, after latching onto Gary Twigg’s flick.
The home side came out with intent in the second half, with Morrison remaining dangerous on the right, and Conor O’Grady pushing on. But still they failed to test Barry Murphy, and boss Paul Cook opted to bring in striker Stephen Parkhouse and young full-back Danny Keohane.
But Amond should have got his third on 58 minutes, when the excellent Robinson picked him out in space in front of goal, but his weak shot was saved by Brush.
But Robinson put the result beyond doubt on 70 minutes, when he sent Brush the wrong way from the spot after he was tripped by O’Grady inside the area.
Rovers battled on with Boco firing narrowly wide but their misery was compounded when captain Conor O’Grady was shown a straight red when he kicked out at Patrick Flynn after he was fouled at the edge of the area.
And their night of woe ended with Barry Murphy brilliantly saving Parkhouse’s 81st minute penalty after Alan Keane had been fouled by Stephen Rice.
Sligo: Brush, Keane, Peers, Feeney (Keohane 60), Ventre, Cash (Parkhouse 55), O’Grady (captain), Ryan (Torpey 73), Morrison, Boco, Cretaro.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Cameron (Madden 89), Maguire, Price, Flynn, Robinson (captain), Rice, Bradley, Cahill, Twigg (Purcell 75), Amond (McGill 86).
Referee: N Doyle.
