Shels' 10-minute blitz sends Sligo down as John Russell's men eye top-four finish

LOI Premier Division Shelbourne 5 - 1 Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers were officially relegated to the First Division by former manager John Russell as Shelbourne were dominant winners at Tolka Park. Shels scored four goals in 10 second-half minutes to put this game well beyond the league's bottom side after the sides went in level at half-time. The heavy defeat leaves Darren Purse's charges 11 points adrift with three games left, and Rovers are returning to the First Division for the first time in 21 years. For Shels, they move into fourth and their battle for a top-four spot remains very much alive. Despite dominating the first half, Shelbourne found themselves level at the break with Kaiyne Woolery equalising for Sligo on the stroke of half-time – just their second league goal in seven games – after Daniel Kelly opened Shels' account early on. Reuben Gillespie of Sligo Rovers in action against Seán Moore of Shelbourne at Tolka Park © Eakin Howard/Sportsfile But Russell's men should have been further ahead at the break had they taken their chances. The hosts made sure to take those opportunities in the second half, sending Rovers home with a heavy defeat to compound the misery after a torrid season. Russell had only collected one league win as Shelbourne manager prior to this clash against his former side. Rovers knew anything less than a win would see their relegation confirmed, and that proved to be the case. Woolery had a chance after seven minutes to open the scoring against the run of play, but the former Tranmere man pulled his shot wide. The Tolka Park side went ahead with 12 minutes played as Mipo Odubeko's cross was poked in by Kelly. And Shels had plenty of chances to extend their lead, with Kerr McInroy's thunderbolt from distance the best of the chances, as it hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. Woolery made it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time despite Shelbourne's dominance, but the second half would make for grim viewing for the travelling faithful. Regular Position Team P G W D L GD 1 Shamrock Rovers 62 32 18 8 6 +20 2 St. Patrick's Athletic 59 32 17 8 7 +27 3 Bohemians 59 32 17 8 7 +19 4 Shelbourne 43 33 10 13 10 +1 5 Derry City 41 32 9 14 9 +3 6 Dundalk 41 33 10 11 12 -5 7 Galway United 38 32 9 11 12 -6 8 Waterford 34 32 7 13 12 -10 9 Drogheda United 34 33 8 10 15 -15 10 Sligo Rovers 23 33 5 8 20 -34 A second from former West Ham man Odubeko had the hosts ahead again, and two minutes later John Martin made it 3-1 after a well-worked move. Milan Mbeng made it 4-1, with a second Martin goal on the hour mark putting huge distance between the two sides. And while Rovers' relegation was just a matter of when, the manner in which it was confirmed made for grim viewing for their travelling supporters.