SLIGO Rovers find themselves anchored to the bottom of the Premier Division table going into the international break after Derry City ended their four year run without a win at the Showgrounds.
Michael Duffy’s first half goal earned the Candystripes what was their first win on the road this year.
It bumped them ahead of Cork, Bohs and Sligo who are now two points adrift following their fourth defeat in their opening six.
Despite an aggressive start from Rovers, it was the visitors who led this game at the break courtesy of match-winner Duffy.
The multiple league and cup winner haunted Sligo down his left side and was involved eleven minutes in when he crossed for Liam Boyce who nodded wide.
City then had to rely on a clearance from Sam Todd, their only change from their draw with Galway.
The former Finn Harps man swept away the danger after Jad Hakiki had lobbed the ball over the oncoming Brian Maher after Reece Hutchinson’s ball had opened up the City rearguard.
Tiernan Lynch’s men opened the lead on 20 minutes when Sligo’s Oskar Van Hattum conceded a soft set-piece to Duffy.
The ex-Dundalk winger’s right-footed free-kick from the left drifted into the opposite corner, untouched.
Referee’s assistant Darragh Keenan had initially lifted his flag to rule out the goal, before quickly changing his mind.
Without a win at the Showgrounds since 2021, a record which stretches back to the early days of Ruaidhri Higgins’ reign, City then lost midfielder Sadou Diallo to an arm injury nine minutes from the break, after Duffy’s corner had sliced Conor Walsh’s crossbar.
Sligo’s main threat came from Hakiki who fired well over on 69 minutes as the sides struggled to create much in a second period without many talking points until the dying moments.
Substitute Stephen Mallon might have done better with his opportunity on 88 but could only fire straight at Maher who had closed the angle.
Meanwhile the Derry stopper easily dealt with John Mahon’s headed effort from a Hutchinson cross.
Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh 6; Harvey Lintott 5 (Stephen Mallon HT) 6, Ollie Denham 6, John Mahon 7, Reece Hutchinson 6; Connor Malley 6 (Ronan Manning 78) 6, Jake Doyle-Hayes 7; Oskar Van Hattum 6, Jad Hakiki 6, Will Fitzgerald 6 (Francely Lomboto 78) 6; Cian Kavanagh 5.
Derry City: Brian Maher 7; Mark Connolly 7, Hayden Cann 6, Sam Todd 7; Ronan Boyce 6, Ben Doherty 7; Sadou Diallo 6 (Ciaron Harkin 36) 6, Adam O’Reilly 6; Dom Thomas 6 (Shane Ferguson HT) 6, Michael Duffy 7; Liam Boyce 5 (Danny Mullen 69) 6.
Referee: Rob Hennessy 6.
Star man: Duffy (Derry).
Attendance: 3,712.
