Yellow cards fever hits Showgrounds

Moments before kick-off in Sligo Rovers’ ninth eircom League First Division match of the season – against Kilkenny City – a brief rain shower left the surface of the Showgrounds pitch glistening in the evening sun.
A bad omen it may have been but nothing rained on Rovers’ parade as they picked up their fourth win of the campaign and strengthened their third place in the First Division.
Dynamic full-back Ryan O’Donnell was due to start in place of Philip Gallagher, but a recurrence of his knee injury during pre-match warm-up meant Gallagher was called in as a late replacement.
The first-half was bereft of chances for either side, but Limerick referee Alan Gough occupied his time by dishing out three yellow cards, the first going to Ciaran Foley for a mistimed foul on Alan Martin, who himself picked up a booking later that half.
After a dismal half-hour, Paul McTiernan was introduced for Brian Tosh, as manager Sean Connor looked to spark some inspiration in the Sligo attack.
It almost paid off in the closing stages. Raffael Cretaro latched on to a free-kick to shoot just over the crossbar in the 40th minute and just before the break the winger’s 30-yards free-kick was parried by goalkeeper Graham Loughman at full stretch.
There was more changes at half-time with Gerry Carr coming on for the injured team captain Michael McNamara and a worrying knock to Jason McCartney preceded Steve Feeney’s introduction as Sligo’s third substitution.
The substitutions had a definite impact on the game. McTiernan always looked threatening and the Kilkenny defence were run ragged trying to track his movements.
Steve Feeney was able to push forward in the middle of the park, while Gerry Carr maintained an aerial dominance at the back.
When Rovers finally did make the breakthrough, courtesy of ‘Player of the Match’ Sean Flannery, it was a lead they rarely looked like losing.
The closest Kilkenny got was when John O’Hara parried Joey Courtney’s free-kick over the crossbar and from the resulting corner, player-manager Pat Scully was denied by the upright after a powerful header.
However, referee Alan Gough was not done handing out yellow cards. When Alan Martin fouled Ciaran Foley on 68 minutes, Gough had to show him a second yellow.
By the time the game had finished no less than eight yellow cards were handed out to seven different players. Did the game warrant so much authoritative abuse? Far from it.
Although the win was far from resounding, Sligo Rovers – who are away to Kildare County next Saturday evening – can take heart from claiming all three points. Pretty it may not have been, but these are the games you have to win if promotion is on the cards.

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