Sligo keep their hopes alive

Sligo Rovers 2 Limerick City 0

Sligo Rovers slim hopes of retaining their Airtricity Premier division title are still alive after Saturday nights 2-0 win over Limerick at the Showgrounds but Ian Baracloughs side can expect much sterner tests in the weeks ahead.

The fare served up by both sides was far from edge of the seat stuff for a crowd of 1,684 but in the end it was another crucial three points for Sligo.

Sligo manager Ian Baraclough said “putting everything together it was as a good a performance as we’ve had all season . We were not under threat, there were no panic moments and we are in good shape going into the last eight games of the season.”

Rovers hit the front after eight minutes of the first half when Raffaele Cretaro met Kieran Djilalis cross with the ball deflecting into the Limerick net off defender Patrick Nzuzi.

Danny North doubled Sligo's advantage in the 54th minute following a Joseph Ndo free kick leaving Limerick with an uphill struggle.

The champions enjoyed the lions share of possession in the second half with Djilali and North going close in the 74th and 77th minutes respectively.

Substitute David McMillan then tested the Limerick defence twice in as many minutes with netminder Ryan producing a wonderful save to keep out McMillans second shot on goal.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Peers, Henderson, Keane, Lynch, Ndo, Greene, Cawley, Djilali, Cretaro, North. Subs: Conneely for Cawley 67mins, D McMillan for Lynch 75mins, Ventre for Cretaro 83mins.
LIMERICK: Ryan, Williams, Folan, Nzuzi, Gamble, Oji, O'Leary, Curran, Rainsford, Bradley, Bossekota Bofunda.Subs: Galbraith for Bossekota Bofunda (63mins), Tiofack for O'Leary (77mins), Sheedy for Rainsford (86mins).
Referee: Derek Tomney.