Shamrock Rovers extend their lead at the top after brushing aside Sligo Rovers

A Rory Gaffney double and a late Aaron Greene goal saw Shamrock Rovers easily swat aside Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

The Hoops effectively sealed the points early in the second half when Gaffney scored twice in the space in three minutes. While substitute Greene added the gloss to a straight-forward victory for the Dubliners with one minute remaining at the end of the game.

With an ever-growing injury list, Sligo boss John Russell made two enforced changes from their defeat to Bohs on Friday night. Midfielder Lukas Browning returned for his first start in four games, while full back Danny Lafferty deputised at the heart of defence with Russell having no fit first team centre halves at his disposal.

Very much the form team going into this encounter, the visitors made three changes from their defeat of Dundalk. Farrugia, Sean Gannon and Sligo academy graduate Johnny Kenny all returning to the fold.

The home side found themselves somewhat fortunate to have got to the break scoreless as Stephen Bradley's men provided the much more dominant threat.

Targeting Sligo’s right side, Neil Farrugia found plenty of joy. He fired an early warning shot at Luke McNicholas. While Jack Byrne wasn’t far away with an effort five minutes in.

The hosts had their best chance of the half on ten minutes when Frank Liivak managed to get on the end of a cross from the end line by from a determined Reece Hutchinson. The Estonian driving narrowly wide although it looked like the shot had taken a touch off a Hoops defender on its way.

The champions continued to press down that left side and the visiting supporters thought Kenny had scored against his old club on twelve minutes. The Celtic loanee forcing an impressive stop from McNicholas after Kenny