Shamrock Rovers collected their fifth win in six games, as goals from Johnny Kenny and Trevor Clarke negated the efforts of a spirited Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
The Hoops victory closes the gap on league-leading Bohemians to four points and stretches the Dublin side's unbeaten run to nine games.
Greg Bolger nabbed Sligo's second-half consolation, but John Russell’s men left Dublin 24 empty handed on a night where they arguably deserved much more.
Judging on tonight’s performances, a Sligo win against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday is not unlikely and could see them return to within touching distance of the coveted European places.
While many teams choose to sit back and counter attack when they come to Tallaght Stadium, the Bit o’ Red opted for the opposite.
Russell’s men stressed their hosts with a high-press, consistently winning possession deep into Hoops territory.
Will Fitzgerald and Frank Liivak collected the ball high and wide, but their final product was lacking as pass after pass failed to find Max Mata up top.
Despite missing that crucial final ball, the visitors were the better team throughout the first half. However, it was Rovers who took the lead midway through the half.
Cruelly, it was the Sligo academy graduate now at Shamrock Rovers who displayed composure beyond his years to put his boyhood club behind.
Latching onto a Markus Poom long ball, 19-year-old Kenny brushed past Nando Pijnaker before charging into the box and cushioning a half-volley finish into the top right corner.
His fourth goal of the season reminding those in attendance why Celtic tied the Ireland Under-21 international to a five-year contract in January 2022.
Undeterred by that suckerpunch, the visitors built fluidly in their attempts to get an equaliser.
League of Ireland top scorer Mata came closest in the 38th minute when he rifled a 20-yard shot just wide of Alan Mannus’ left post.
And again, it was the visitors who looked most likely to score after the break, however, it was the Hoops who doubled the advantage when Jack Byrne picked up possession at the moment Sligo found themselves deep in the Hoops' half.
The 27-year-old took a stride forward before sliding a 20-yard pass into the path of Clarke to carry forward and slot past Luke McNicholas in the Sligo net.
Five minutes later, the Bit o’ Red got one back when Greg Bolger’s long-range shot deflected off Roberto Lopes to squirm into the bottom left corner.
However, that goal always seemed to be a consolation as the Hoops showed strength of mind to silence Sligo late on.
Mata had a powerful header that flew marginally over in the final minutes, but Stephen Bradley was able to breathe a sigh of relief as he turns his attention to Derry City on Bank Holiday Monday.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Dan Cleary; Neil Farrugia, Trevor Clarke; Markus Poom (Richie Towell, 57), Gary O’Neill; Jack Byrne, Graham Burke (Darragh Nugent, 83); Rory Gaffney, Johnny Kenny (Aaron Greene, 72).
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk (David Cawley, 78), Nando Pijnaker, Eanna Clancy (Danny Lafferty, 67), Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning, 78); Will Fitzgerald, Kailin Barlow (Stefan Radosavljevic, 59), Frank Liivak; Max Mata.
Referee: Damien MacGraith.
