Hoops start defence against Sligo
SHAMROCK Rovers face a tricky test against Sligo Rovers on Saturday, as they kickstart their defence of the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Last season, Stephen Bradley’s side completed their march to a third title in succession and they will be aiming to maintain their winning ways in the league in the drive for a fourth.
Sligo proved to be a tough team for the Hoops to break down last season, being held to share the spoils twice while also recording a pair of victories.
Strength has been added to the Tallaght outfit in the off-season with Markus Poom joining on loan from Flora Tallinn, Liam Burt signing from Dublin rivals Bohemians and Celtic starlet Johnny Kenny also joining on-loan for the season.
Trevor Clarke, who left the Hoops to pen a deal with Rotherham United in 2019, has also returned to the club on loan from Bristol Rovers.
All four of these new players featured as Shamrock Rovers travelled to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium to face Derry City in the curtain raiser for the 2023 season, the President’s Cup, last weekend.
The Candystripes pressed Bradley’s men high in their own half, not allowing them any time on the ball and this led to Will Patching opening the scoring for the hosts after being found in the box by Michael Duffy.
Kenny, Burt and Poom all made attempts on goal, but not enough to trouble Derry goalkeeper Brian Maher.
Momentum was with the Hoops and Richie Towell had a great chance to draw parity before the break, but his driven effort went narrowly over the crossbar.
However, just before the interval, Duffy picked up the ball on the left flank, cut inside and shot from 25- yards, with the ball bouncing through the legs of Leon Pohls in the Rovers goal.
In the second-half, Bradley dispatched Graham Burke, Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke from the bench – to no avail.
Kilnamanagh man Aaron Green also came in on 64-minutes but could not find a way to help Shamrock Rovers back into the encounter.
Derry City are being touted as the biggest challenge for Rovers in achieving four-in-a-row, and the side’s are due to meet for the first time in the league at Tallaght Stadium on March 3.
