Sligo Rovers bounced back to winning form with a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Kilkenny City at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

It was Sligo's first league win in ten outings and the man they had to thank was striker Marcus Hallows who grabbed two goals on only his second league start of the season. With their latest full-time professional recruit Aled Rowlands,

signed on trial from Manchester City, making his debut, Sligo took the game to Kilkenny from the start. Hallows twice came close in the first half, forcing Kilkenny keeper John Connolly to a smart save in the 23rd minute and flashing a header just wide of the upright three minutes before the break.

Inevitably, it was Hallows who finally made the breakthrough, heading powerfully to the net from a Steve Jones cross in the 56th minute.

Little had been seen of Kilkenny as an attacking force up to that point but they rallied strongly in the closing stages and the Sligo defence had a number of anxious moments.

Goalkeeper Nicky Broujos had to dive bravely at the feet of the inrushing Aidan Cooney in the 69th minute and a couple of minutes later John Power blazed over from a good position following a mix-up in the Sligo defence.

Kilkenny's hopes of a late revival were finally killed off when Sligo struck for a second goal two minutes into injury time. Midfielder Neil Ogden forced Connolly to a flying save but the alert Hallows followed up to fire home on the rebound.

Sligo Rovers: Broujos, Southworth, Hutchison, Reid, Birks, Hare, Jones, Moran, Hallows, Ogden, Rowlands. Sub: Thew for Rowlands (78 mins).

Kilkenny City: Connolly, Breen, R Walsh, Hall, Smith, Kelly, D Walsh, Power, Cooney, O'Connor, Rea. Subs: Devereaux for R Walsh (half-time), Arrigan for O'Connor (61 mins), Maher for Power (76 mins).

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).