Published: Friday, 19th June, 2009 8:00am

Tullamore rue missed chances as Sligo Rovers snatch victory

Soccer: League of Ireland A Championship

Sligo Rovers 1

Tullamore Town 0

Tullamore travelled to Sligo last Saturday and left empty handed having dominated the game for long periods. Striking the crossbar on three separate occasions and having a strong penalty claim turned down, it is probably fair to say that lady luck did not smile on Tullamore but their inability to turn possession into scores is continuing to blight their progress.

On a small and hard pitch, Town went straight into the attack and after only nine minutes Stephen Francis headed down an Eoghan O"Shea free kick into the path of Michael Hoey but his fine volley just drifted past the far post. Two minutes later ,Stephen Duffy picked the ball up twenty yards out and sent a lovely curling left footed shot crashing off the crossbar. With quarter of an hour gone O"Shea got on the end of a Kevin Duffy corner but his header was superbly saved and, minutes later, following another Duffy corner, Brendan Bracken saw his powerful header clip the top of the bar. As the home side steadied the ship a fine twenty five yard drive from Oisin Mannion just cleared the crossbar as the first half ended in stalemate.

Tullamore began the second half as they had finished the first with the Sligo keeper Stephen Herraghty needing two attempts to keep out a fine Stephen Francis effort. Brian Francis then broke clear on the left and pulled the ball back for Goodings but Herraghty brilliantly tipped his effort onto the bar and out for a corner. As if to underline that this was not going to be their day, Town went behind on the hour when Christopher McLoughlin fired in a left wing cross and Shane Brennan got to the ball ahead of Joe Mooney to send a looping header over him and into the net.

With manager Mark Dempsey sending on Darren Coleman and Fergal Gorman, the visitors went all out for an equaliser and on 65 minutes Mark Goodings broke clear but shot straight at the keeper. Then Kevin Duffy was taken down in the area as he was about to shoot but, to his dismay, the referee waved play on. With minutes remaining they had a great chance when Herraghty misjudged a long ball out of defence from Eoghan O"Shea but with the goal gaping Goodings volleyed over from the edge of the area as Town were left to rue their missed chances.

The back four of Scott Delaney, Brendan Bracken, Eoghan O"Shea and Shane Mannion were outstanding throughout but, up front, Michael Hoey and Mark Goodings are still finding goals at a premium although newcomer Darren Coleman, when introduced, looked very dangerous in attack.

Tullamore are away to Galway United next Sunday when they will be hoping for a dramatic change in their fortunes.

Tullamore: Joe Mooney, Scott Delaney, Eoghan O"Shea, Brendan Bracken, Shane Mannion, Stephen Duffy, Brian Francis, Kevin Duffy, Stephen Francis, Michael Hoey and Mark Goodings. Subs: Darren Coleman, Fergal Gorman, Jason O"Halloran, Ken Doyle and Ross Whittaker.