High-flying Shelbourne fell to their first defeat in nine games as Sligo Rovers pulled off one of the surprises of the season as they earned a huge and hard-fought three points at Tolka Park.
As expected, Damien Duff's side made a dominant start and - in front of a crowd that included current and former Ireland senior internationals Shane Duffy, Seamus Coleman Robbie Brady, Matt Doherty, Glenn Whelan - really should have been ahead, only for one of the league's top stoppers Ed McGinty to deny them repeatedly.
Firstly, he got down sharply to turn Will Jarvis’ header past the near post, and minutes later the league's top netminder - with 65 saves prior to kick off - stood tall to save from Sean Boyd, who had found himself clear in on goal.
But the depleted visitors, buoyed by a confidence boosting draw away at Derry City in their last outing, punished the hosts sloppy finishing and took the lead much against the run of play when Kailin Barlow picked up a long ball and beat a couple of Reds defenders before flashing his shot across goal into the bottom corner.
📹 | Kailin Barlow silences Tolka Park with the opener for Sligo!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 31, 2024
SHE 0-1 SLI #LOITV | #SHESLI pic.twitter.com/NBTTS9f7HJ
McGinty was called into action again just before the break as the Reds continued to pour forward. Cafrrey’s outswinging corner-kick caused a scramble in the area before being prodded towards goal from close range by Paddy Barrett but thankfully for the Bit O’Red it went straight at the keeper.
Duff opted for an attacking move at the break, introducing Liam Burt for JJ Lunney, in a bid to break down the makeshift visitors and haul themselves level.
Frustration began to grow around the stadium but on the hour mark Sean Boyd alleviated the anxiety as he took control of a loose ball from another Caffrey corner, before cutting inside on his left foot and smashing home the equaliser.
But, much like the first half, the visitors showed tremendous character and managed to get themselves back in front despite being under the cosh. Stephan Radosavljevic found a few yards of space in the middle of the park and played a delightful slide-rule ball in behind Gavin Molloy to the classy Fabrice Hartmann, who kept his cool to slide the ball past the onrushing Kearns.
Substitute Owen Elding could have made the game safe for Sligo when he managed to make a nuisance of himself, getting in between Molloy and Kearns as the ball trickled back to the keeper. But the youngster, who was off balance, failed to connect cleanly with the goal at his mercy.
With just minutes remaining it was all out-attack from the home side as they unloaded the bench but failed to force one over the line.
Just before the seven minutes of injury time were announced, John Martin had a glorious opportunity from 12-yards out but was denied by McGinty’s outstretched foot, and from the resulting corner another goalmouth scramble somehow saw the ball cleared off the line to safety.
To their immense credit, Rovers defended for their lives in the remaining minutes as they threw their bodies on the line and took the all important three points back to the Showgrounds.
Shels lead at the top was only cut to five points after Derry's draw at Dundalk but Shamrock Rovers are back within six following their win in Drogheda.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Gavin Molloy, Kameron Ledwidge (John Martin, 67’); JJ Lunney (Liam Burt, 45’), Mark Coyle (Shane Farrell, 78’); Evan Caffrey, Matty Smith (Dean Williams, 78’), Will Jarvis (Jad Hakiki, 84’); Sean Boyd
Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, Tyreke Wilson, Shane Griffin, John O’Sullivan
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Ollie Denham, Conor Reynolds (Owen Elding, 28’), Reece Hutchinson, JR Wilson; Kailin Barlow (Sean McAteer, 90’), Connor Malley, Ellis Chapman, Niall Morahan; Stephan Radosavljevic (Kyle McDonagh, 90’), Fabric Hartmann (Wilson Waweru, 79’)
Subs not used: Richard Brush, David Jonathan, Conor Cannon, Shea Malone, Colin Mooney
