Sligo Rovers' manager Jim McInally is close to resigning after his side were humiliated at Morton Stadium yesterday.

Shamrock Rovers maintained their impressive start to the season to open up a three-point gap with this decidedly facile win over a heartless Sligo team.

"I can accept bad performances, but I'll not accept non-triers," said a clearly dejected McInally, who left the dressing-room way ahead of his players.

"On the evidence of that performance we are not relegation material, we are already relegated.

"They seem to want to play a back to front game rather than a passing, moving game. They stayed up playing like that last season. And if they want to continue to play like that, that's okay by me." MicInally, who was told on Friday that the club has no money to spend on improving the squad, says he will consider his future over the next few days.

For their part, Shamrock Rovers' win was all the more encouraging considering they played the whole of the second-half with 10 men after goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd was sent-off seconds before half-time for hand-ball outside his penalty area.

Damien Richardson's side were well in command even at that stage after O'Regan had allowed their second goal despite one of his assistants having raised his flag.

Billy Woods, with the aid of a rebound off a defender, raced through the heart of the Sligo defence to shoot low past Matt Boswell and in off a post.

Woods had earlier provided the 22nd minute corner which led to the home side's opening goal. Shane Jackson's header was blocked on the line by 17-year-old debutant right-back, Johnny Davey, but Jason Colwell, back in the side in place of Marc Kenny, was on hand to blast home the rebound.

Robbie Horgan replaced O'Dowd in goal at the concession of Richie Purdy, though any thoughts of a Sligo revival were quickly dispelled within four minutes of the restart, when Shamrock Rovers scored again.

Once more it was Woods's well struck corner which caused the Sligo defence problems and Tony Cousins scored with a header that Matt Boswell could only help into the net off his crossbar.

Shane Robinson missed the proverbial sitter on 62 minutes before Sligo had two goals disallowed inside a five minute spell for a foul on Horgan and an offisde.

You felt it would surely have made little difference to Sligo's hopes, however, and Shamrock duly added their fourth goal in the 83rd minute when substitute Paul Crowley punished a mistake by Rossiter to roll the ball past Boswell.

The one glimmer of hope for Sligo's long season ahead was provided by their consolation goal four minutes from time; 16-year-old Keith Gilroy, one of four teenagers in their side, shooting home from the edge of the area.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Britton, Jackson, Palmer, Dunne; Robinson, Colwell, Tracey, Woods; Cousins, Purdy. Subs: Horgan for Purdy (44 mins), Crowley for Robinson (75 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS: Boswell; Davey, Charles, McInally, Bonar; Rossiter, Gilroy, O'Grady, El Khaliffi; Shannon, Moran. Subs: Lynch for McInally (half-time), Marshall and Oates for Davey and El Khaliffi (both 57 mins.).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).