SHELBOURNE resurrected their title hopes with a convincing 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers at storm-lashed Sligo showgrounds on Saturday night.
Gale force winds and driving rain reduced the game to something of a lottery butt Shelbourne showed the greater desire on the night to emerge with a priceless victory. Apart from a productive spell in the first 15 minutes Sligo had little to offer up front and Shelbourne, with Tony Sheridan defying the elements with yet another inspired performance, always looked the more likely to succeed.
The vital first goal came in the 17th minute and the elements certainly played a factor in it. Tony Sheridan's booming corner from the right caught on the wind, deceived keeper Nicky Broujos and dropped invitingly at the feet of Pat Scully, who gratefully applied the finishing touch.
From then on Shelbourne turned on the style and grabbed a second goal in 38 minutes when Pat Morley applied the finishing touch to Mark Rutherford's header, from Brian Flood's cross.
Sligo tried to get back into contention in the early stages of the second half but were guilty of some wayward finishing. And their hopes of a revival were killed off when Shelbourne produced a classic goal in the 68th minute. Mark Rutherford seizing on a loose clearance, skipped past two challenges on the left before delivering a pinpoint cross which was volleyed in to the net in spectacular fashion by Stephen Geoghegan.
