Shelbourne end long wait for win at Tolka Park against Sligo Rovers

Shelbourne rounded off what has been a very positive week for the club with their first win at Tolka Park this season.

The Reds followed up reports that their Drumcondra base is not to be considered for residential rezoning with their second win over Sligo Rovers this term.

Jack Moylan and Sean Boyd struck almost identical goals in the first half for the Dubliners. And while Sligo did fight their way back into this tie courtesy of a Paddy Kirk strike, last year's First Division champions held on for a priceless victory.

Searching for what had been an elusive first win on home soil, Shels were well on top in an opening 45 in which Rovers struggled to create much int terms of meaningful opportunities.

Winger Mark Byrne had more time on his hands than he thought when he scuffed an effort well wide of Brendan Clarke's goal early on after John Wilson’s slip.

The visitors had taken two wins from their last five games on the road, but Shels put a spanner in the works on 23 minutes in this one, when Moylan hit a superb opener.

Adam McDonnell was dispossessed at the edge of the Sligo area before the ball fell to Moylan, who picked out the corner of Ed McGinty’s net with a sumptuous finish with the inside of his right boot from 20 yards.

There were half chances for Rovers’ New Zealand international Nando Pijnaker and striker Aidan Keena before the break. But Shels, led from the bench by Joey O’Brien in the absence of the suspended Damien Duff, remained on top until half-time.

Luke Byrne’s volley from Wilson’s cross after the full back had rounded Sligo skipper David Cawley, was held by McGinty. But the Rovers stopper could do nothing about Boyd’s goal two minutes from the whistle, an almost carbon copy of Moylan’s opener.

Again McDonnell