Shamrock Rovers climbed to fourth place in the Premier Division after an epic and highly charged contest with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last night.

Sligo had centre back Jim Sheridan and midfielder Neil Ogden sent off in a pulsating second half; but the visitors still had to wait until the 71st minute to clinch their first away win of the season.

It all started very tamely with neither side displaying much adventure. Gradually the visitors began to dictate the pace, but it took a bizarre own goal by Sligo fullback Tony Callaghan to give them the lead in the 24th minute.

Sligo stepped up a gear towards the end of the half and were rewarded when Glen Shannon forced the ball over the line after Tony O'Dowd had acrobatically kept out a close range effort from Wesley Charles.

It all started to go wrong for Sligo within two minutes of the re-start. Sheridan was sent off for deliberate hand ball, and from the resultant penalty Marc Kenny restored the Hoops' advantage.

Sligo hit back strongly and were level on the hour when Shannon set up Marcus Hallows for a clinically taken goal.

But within 60 seconds Sligo were reduced to nine men when Ogden was shown the red card after a high challenge on Matt Britton. The winner arrived on 71 minutes, when Kenny made room down the right before crossing for Tony Cousins to head home.

Sligo Rovers: Boswell, Callaghan, Hutchison, Hetherston, Sheridan, Charles, Jones, Shannon, Hallows, Ogden, Rowlands. Subs: O'Grady for Hetherston (half-time); Oates for Jones (80 mins).

Shamrock Rovers: O'Dowd, Britton, Dunne, Brazil, Whelan, Colwell, Treacy, Cousins, Sherlock, Kenny, O'Neill. Subs: Woods for Kenny (72 mins); Markey for Sherlock (85 mins).

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).