Shamrock Rovers 5 Sligo Rovers 1

Brandon Miele and Michael Drennan helped themselves to a brace of goals at the Tallaght Stadium last night as third-place Shamrock Rovers maintained their unbeaten run in the top-flight with a comfortable triumph over a struggling Sligo Rovers.

Lone frontman Drennan was left isolated in the home team’s attack during the early exchanges, but Pat Fenlon’s men ultimately broke the deadlock on 23 minutes when Miele found the net on the half-volley from a right-wing delivery by Simon Madden.

With five minutes remaining in the opening half, the south Dubliners extended their advantage. Kieran Marty Waters was set free on goal, and the former Bray winger displayed remarkable composure to beat the advanced Richard Brush with a delicate left-footed chip.

Dinny Corcoran offered Sligo a much-needed lifeline just past the hour mark, when he chased down a long ball, and subsequently lobbed the stranded Craig Hyland from a tight angle.

However, Drennan restored the Hoops’ two goal-advantage with a neat finish after 68 minutes, and when Waters was upended in the area two minutes later, Drennan stepped forward to grab his second goal with consummate ease.

Miele completed the rout deep into the second-half stoppage time, and although injuries to Ryan Brennan, Sean O’Connor and Maxime Blanchard will be a cause of concern to Fenlon, his old Bohemians compatriot Owen Heary will come under intense scrutiny following Sligo’s seventh league defeat of the season.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Hyland; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard (Webster 87), Byrne; Waters, R Brennan (O’Connor 45+1) (G Brennan 82), McPhail, McCabe; Miele; Drennan.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Keane, Peers, Folan, Ledwith; Beattie, Wearen, Cawley, Puri; Russell (Armstrong 73), Corcoran.

Referee: P Sutton (Clare).