THERE IS nothing like the sight of the green and white hooped jerseys of Shamrock Rovers to stir Sligo Rovers's passion. After a run of three games without a win since the departure of their former manager, Steve Cotterill last month, Sligo rediscovered their early season sparkle in emphatic fashion at a windswept Sligo Showgrounds on Saturday.
Sligo made the vital breakthrough in the 36th minute, when a long clearance from defence appeared to carry little danger, but the ever willing James Mulligan sprinted past two hesitant defenders before sliding the ball past the advancing Robbie Horgan.
Stephen Grant, who had been denied by the alert Alan O'Neill in the first half, missed a glorious opportunity to put the sides on level terms three minutes after the break when he shot wide from close range.
From then on Sligo controlled the game. Lee Thew was unlucky to see a headed effort ruled out for off side after 54 minutes, but Mulligan finally got the second goal Sligo's urgency deserved when he volleyed home in the 76th minute after Johnny Kenny's accurate cross had created the opening.
Just for good measure, Sligo added a third goal four minutes later when Garreth O'Sullivan prodded the ball over the line after Horgan could do no more than parry a Ryan Cross free kick.
