Rovers hit Sligo for three to stay well clear at top of the table

Shamrock Rovers kept clear daylight between themselves and title chasers Derry City after the Tallaght side saw off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds with relative ease.

Dan Cleary, Dylan Watts and Graham Burke netted for the Hoops ahead of their trip to Norway to take on Molde in the Europa Conference League on Thursday next. While Nando Pijnaker scrambled home Sligo's consolation in the second half, his first goal for the club.

The result leaves the Dubliners five points clear with five games remaining.

Sligo boss John Russell made four changes from their defeat to Derry two and a half weeks ago, with skipper David Cawley, Max Mata and Colm Horgan returning. While veteran goalkeeper Richard Brush appeared between the sticks for just the fourth time this term.

Ronan Finn the champions’ only change from their victory over UCD the Monday previous.

Well in charge against a meagre Sligo showing in the opening half, Stephen Bradley’s side probably should have been further ahead than the two goals that separated the sides at the break.

There were chances for Gaffney and Burke, both carved from defensive errors, before the Hoops made their dominance count on the quarter hour when Cleary nodded home Sean Kavanagh’s cross.

Gaffney blasted wide after a Shane Blaney mishap five minutes later, while the visitors owed their second to some Jack Byrne brilliance seven minutes from the interval.

Premier League Table

The playmaker splitting the heart of both the Sligo midfield and defence with a clever ball into the path of Watts who added a clinical finish.

The struggling hosts did have a half chance courtesy of a speculative Aidan Keena shot from long range.

While referee Paul McLaughlin was met with a chorus of boos on his return to the dressing