AIRTRICITY LEAGUE Sligo Rovers 0 Shamrock Rovers 2:SHAMROCK ROVERS spoiled the party for Ian Baraclough's Airtricity league-winning side with a well-merited 2-0 win at the Showgrounds last night.

Gary Twigg who put the visitors in front in the first half proved his worth again to the Hoops with his second goal in the 57th minute when he swept the ball to the net following a lapse in the Sligo defence.

Sligo battled bravely to the end but they were never able to breach a rock-solid Shamrock Rovers defence.

The cup was presented to Captain Danny Ventre by Airtricity league chairman Eamonn Naughton and Stephen Wheeler chief executive of the league after the match. Members of Sligo’s last league-winning side of 1977 and their manager Billy Sinclair were guests at the celebrations.

The game was stopped for a number of minutes early in the first half when a section of Shamrock Rovers supporters hurled flares on to the pitch but order was restored when gardaí moved in .

Ross Gaynor threatened the visitors goal after two minutes of the first half but the vigilant Hoops’ defence cleared the danger.

A long ball in by Joseph Ndo on five minutes as Sligo went in search of an early goal came to nothing. Gary Twigg put the Hoops ahead in the 10th minute when his clever finish caught the home defence off guard.

Gary McCabe had a great chance to double the visitors’ advantage after 25 minutes following a Billy Dennehy cross but the home goal survived. A shot by Ndo almost sneaked in at the other end on the half-hour mark.

Shamrock Rovers controlled the play in the opening half and remained cool and solid at the back whenever the champions threatened their goal.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Henderson (Owens 56), McGuinness, Peers, Gaynor, Millien (Dillon 67), Lynch, Ndo, Cawley, Cretaro, Quigley (Buchanan 80).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson, Sullivan, Powell, Oman, Gartland, McCormack, Brennan, McCabe, Dennehy, Greene, Twigg (Ebbe 85).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).