Sligo Rovers kickstarted their LOI season in impressive fashion, delivering a commanding performance that left Dundalk reeling at Oriel Park.
John Russell’s team had struggled in their previous eight matches, failing to secure a win since their 1-0 victory over Derry back in September. Additionally, their last away win dated back to May.
However, despite battling challenging weather conditions, they quickly seized control of the game, surging to a 4-0 lead within 39 minutes.
Max Mata added insult to injury for Dundalk by scoring just after the hour mark, leading Sligo Rovers to match their largest-ever league victory against their opponents. The defeat plunged Dundalk to the bottom of the table, marking Stephen O’Donnell’s toughest loss since taking charge.
Sligo Rovers took the lead in the seventh minute when Ellis Chapman slipped the ball past George Shelvey’s legs after a pass from Fabrice Hartmann, who had been set up by Max Mata.
Their advantage doubled in the 14th minute when Shelvey failed to stop Hartmann’s shot from outside the box, allowing the ball to slip into the net.
By the 33rd minute, Sligo Rovers had extended their lead to three goals amid discontent from the home supporters. Ollie Denham initiated the play that led to Mata’s goal, with Andy Boyle’s challenge falling short as Chapman calmly slotted the ball home.
Despite making changes at halftime, including substituting the goalkeeper, Dundalk struggled to contain Sligo Rovers. They came close to scoring on 58 minutes, but Ed McGinty’s impressive save denied them a lifeline.
This save proved pivotal as Sligo Rovers capitalized on their momentum, making it 5-0 shortly after. Chapman’s precise pass found Mata, who calmly finished past Ross Munro. Munro made several decent saves afterward to prevent further humiliation for Dundalk.