Burke hat-trick sends Shamrock Rovers to the summit

Graham Burke stole a sodden Tallaght show with a 15-minute hat-trick as Shamrock Rovers edged top of the table despite a fine goal from another substitute, Aidan Keena.

Quadruple changes are a thing of late and head coach Stephen Bradley made the prospect seem inspired as a slow-burning home side bludgeoned Sligo at a wet and windy Tallaght, with Burke beyond sensational.

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The champions created next to nothing in the first half, but were 2-0 up and coasting within 11 minutes of the second, the Irish international illustrating his quality in front of goal, as Bradley – who a few days ago seemed likely to leave the club – could toast a job well done.

As has seemed the case many times this season, the champions were lethargic until they needed to get the job done, but one worry for Bradley here is that some of his peripheral players did not really impress.

A wild night in the capital – the trees behind the scoreboard looked as though they were itching to break free – was not ideal for a spectacle. Nor was it ideal for the Bit O'Red that goalkeeper Ed McGinty was scratched late, his injury allowing the veteran ex-Hoop Richard Brush a start.

These Monday matches are often played out before a subdued crowd - the 3,066 here well below the average this season in Tallaght - and such was the case in large parts here.

It rather recalled the recent days of behind-closed-doors fare, the players perfectly audible.

One of them, Jack Byrne, was man-marked by Colm Horgan, whose brother Daryl is preparing for the English League One play-offs with Wycombe.

Sligo began well and a superb Robbie McCourt cross had to be helped behind by Seán Kavanagh, unusually playing as one of the back three but excellent throughout.

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