Dream return for Power who scores twice off the bench to beat former club

SLIGO ROVERS 2

SHAMROCK ROVERS 0

SIMON Power was the Sligo Rovers hero on Friday night as the former Shamrock Rovers man came off the bench in his return from injury, scoring twice against his former team in an important victory for the Bit O’Red.

The Wicklow man was only on the pitch three minutes when he gave Sligo Rovers the lead, and minutes later added a second to further dent Shamrock Rovers’ title hopes, bringing John Russell’s men three points behind the champions in the league table.

It’s the first time Sligo Rovers have beaten Shamrock Rovers since 2021, their previous win against the Hoops coming in 2019.

Few would have given the Bit O’Red a chance coming into Friday’s game, but the Tallaght men’s inconsistency, coupled with their substantial injury list meant that Russell and his men were quietly confident.

It was probably a good time to be playing the champions, although with the talent at their disposal, it’s rarely ever a good time.

And it felt that way early on, as the Hoops had plenty of possession and were looking threatening.

Richie Towell’s volley after five minutes went well over the bar, but did serve as a reminder that the former Dundalk man should not be given that kind of time and space in the Rovers area.

For all their possession, Ed McGinty in the Rovers wasn’t really troubled too often, with the Hoops struggling to actually get their efforts on target.

It should have been1-0 to the visitors on 25 minutes as Gary O’Neill’s perfectly weighted pass fell between the two Sligo Rovers defenders, where the waiting Johnny Kenny was able to turn and charge at goal after a nice flick on set him up.

Perhaps it was the pressure of playing against his hometown club in front of a fanbase who once celebrated the Riverstown man, but somehow Kenny pulled his effort wide of the post with just McGinty to beat.

Leon Pohls was rarely troubled, and looked comfortable as the Bit O’Red tried to test him in the first-half.

Another nice Richie Towell drive from the outside of the boot on the half hour mark had Ed McGinty stretching, and Towell watched on in frustration as the effort sailed wide.

The impressive Conan Noonan nodded wide from Dylan Watts’ ball just before half-time, with the Hoops struggling to get their efforts on target.

John Russell’s men were massively boosted by the return to action of Nando Pijnaker, and that was clear to see as the Bit O’Red looked confident and assured at the back.

Although, Kenny again should have given his side the lead when he capitalised on a mistake from a Sligo Rovers throw-in.

And from the left, the Celtic loanee cut his way in, and just needed to take his effort over McGinty.

But, Sligo Rovers’ Oxford loanee made himself big in goals, blocking Kenny’s effort.

The home side were growing in confidence, and were starting to force mistakes from the Shamrock Rovers rearguard as the game went on and bodies tired.

Fabrice Hartmann, playing in his final game for the club, forced a good save from Pohls before the hour mark, as the home side started to ask more and more questions of the league champions.

Enjoying a good spell inside the Hoops half, John Russell’s men were growing in confidence, and you got the feeling that the game was there for the home side who were well on top in the second-half.

And with 71 minutes goal, Russell brought on reinforcements, with Power and Kailin Barlow being brought on.

Power, who spent the last two seasons with Stephen Bradley’s men, was returning from a groin injury that kept him out for two months.

And he might not want to say it publicly, but coming on against his former side would have given the Wicklow native an added incentive to impress.

And that he certainly did. Three minutes after his introduction, Power spotted an opportunity.

The 26-year-old was looking lively on the wing, and having looked up, he let fly from range on the right hand side.

Pohls did get a hand to the shot, but the German helped the effort into the net rather than keeping it out, with Power netting his first goal for the club.

And minutes later, he added a second.

Ollie Denham drove forward with the ball from deep in defence, and played it short to Power who again, was full of confidence, and unleashed a powerful effort from the right which caught Pohls out and saw Rovers take a 2-0 lead – for which the Hoops had no answer.

It was a big win for the Bit O’Red who thoroughly deserved it, in what was an emotional week for the club with the passing of Tommie Gorman.

And it felt as though Tommie was looking down on his beloved Sligo Rovers – a victory that feels so sweet.

Rovers are at home again this week as neighbours Derry City travel to take on the Bit O’Red on Thursday evening.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Ellis Chapman (Kalin Barlow 70), Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Will Fitzgerald (Owen Elding 94), Fabrice Hartmann (Simon Power 70); Wilson Waweru (Stefan Radosavljevic 78).

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Josh Honahan, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Nugent; Richie Towell (Trevor Clarke 77), Markus Poom; Gary O’Neill (Sean Hoare 77), Dylan Watts (Aaron McEneff 67), Conan Noonan (Jack Byrne 67) ; Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 77); Johnny Kenny.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea