Sligo snatch deserved draw against Shamrock Rovers

A late,late goal on his debut from Lukas Browning rescued a deserved point for Sligo Rovers against ten-man Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Drogheda-born Browning struck in the 95th minute of the game after Graham Burke had given the champions the lead on 17, with the Hoops looking like they would join rivals Bohemians at the league summit after the first weekend.

Last year's champions had captain Roberto Lopes sent off in the second half following an innocuous looking encounter with Sligo’s Kailin Barlow.

The Dublin club, looking to recover from their President’s Cup defeat to Derry, made five changes from that game with Burke, Alan Mannus, Rory Gaffney, Neil Farrugia and Jack Byrne returning.

Markus Poom earned his first competitive start, while Trevor Clarke made his first start since his return from Bristol Rovers.

Sligo boss John Russell included youngsters Barlow and Eanna Clancy in his starting eleven, while there were debuts for new recruits Browning, Johan Brannefalk and loanee Reece Hutchinson.

The champions, chasing their fourth title on the bounce forced first sight of goal through Burke after neat inter-play between Byrne and Farrugia. But it was Sligo who manufactured the chances from here until the Hoops’ opener.

Frank Liivak forced an effort four minutes in, while Max Mata fired into the side netting on seven, before the New Zealander’s crisply struck forced a decent stop from Mannus five minutes later.

The Northern Irish veteran knew little about Liivak’s next go at goal on the quarter hour.

Mannus fisted away Will Fitzgerald’s laced volley from the edge of the area, while the former Linfield net minder took Liivak’s follow up straight in the face.

The Tallaght men weathered the early Sligo storm and hit the