Five star Sligo blow Dundalk away

Premier Division: Dundalk 0 Sligo Rovers 5 

Sligo Rovers got their season up and running in style with a five-star display that blew Dundalk away in Oriel Park.

John Russell’s side hadn’t won in their previous eight matches since beating Derry 1-0 in September while it was May when they last won on their travels.

Despite playing against the elements they cruised into a 4-0 lead inside 39 minutes.

A further strike from Max Mata just after the hour mark saw them equal their biggest ever league win against Dundalk, who crashed to the bottom of the table after Stephen O’Donnell’s heaviest defeat in charge.

The Bit O Red hit the front on seven minutes when Ellis Chapman slotted through the legs of George Shelvey after Max Mata had laid off Fabrice Hartmann’s pass to him.

The visitors then doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Shelvey allowed a shot from just outside the box by Hartmann slip under him and into the net.

It was three on 33 minutes as boos rang out from the home support after another calamitous goal.

The visitors broke through Ollie Denham, who looked like he had put Mata in. Andy Boyle got back to make a challenge but everyone in a white shirt stood admiring it as Chapman sauntered in to slot home.

At that stage O’Donnell made changes but things went from bad to worse for his side on 39 minutes when a shot from Mata crept past Shelvey after more chaotic defending.

After two further changes at the break, including the replacement of their goalkeeper, Dundalk threatened to pull one back on 58 minutes when Scott High's through ball put Sam Durrant in behind Reece Hutchinson but Ed McGinty saved superbly with an outstretched left leg.

That was to prove crucial as Sligo made it 5-0 four minutes later with the