SHELBOURNE are within a point of the Premier Division summit after John Martin and Kerr McInroy netted to grind out a first win in five by beating bottom side Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
The goals arrived in the first half with Martin opening the scoring after just three minutes. And Shels were two to the good eight minutes later when McInroy doubled the Dubliners’ lead.
Sligo halved the deficit before the interval through Reece Hutchinson but the hosts could not fashion a leveller. Rovers finished the game with ten men after Cian Kavanagh was sent off on 72 minutes.
With the hosts conceding the most goals in the division this season, it took three minutes for the champions to take control when Martin profited from an under-hit back pass from Oskar van Hattum.
The ex-Dundalk striker rounded Sligo keeper Conor Walsh to finish to an empty net.
The hosts sank further on 12 minutes when Martin turned provider and teed up McInroy, who lashed the ball beyond Walsh.
Sligo steadily found a footing and Hutchinson provided the reward for their effort when he fired home from inside the area in added time at the end of the half.
But the wind was taken out of Sligo sails on 72 minutes when Kavanagh saw red for catching Mark Coyle with a high foot.
SUN STAR MAN
Kerr McInroy (Shelbourne)
SLIGO ROVERS: Walsh 7; Van Hattum 5 (Lintott 61, 6), Mahon 6, Denham 6 (McElroy 46, 7), Hutchinson 7 (Lomboto 81, 6); Malley 6, Wolfe 5 (Manning 46, 6); Elding 6, Hakiki 7, Fitzgerald 7; Kavanagh 5.
SHELBOURNE: Kearns 6; Caffrey 7, Temple 7, Ledwidge 6, Norris 7; McInroy 8, Coyle 7; Lunney 6 (O’Sullivan 64, 6); Coote 6 (Chapman 53, 6), Martin 7 (Boyd 78, 6), Odubeko 5 (Wood 64, 6).
REFEREE: P Norton (Dublin) 6.
