Legends return for Richard Brush Testimonial
The Richard Brush X1 pictured before the testimonial.
Fresh from their heroics the night before in Cork, Sligo Rovers were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they honoured their long serving player Richard Brush who had his testimonial.
Brush signed for Rovers in 2006 and has been with the clubs for 13 years and also had spells with Shamrock Rovers, Finn Harps, Ballinamallard and Cliftonville. The opposition were a side made up of returning legends who had played with Brush during his time in the Showgrounds. Their manager was a man well known in football circles in Sligo and Mayo, Leo Tierney.
The Rovers players had read the script and kept the tempo pedestrian for the Legends who ended up winning 4-1. Eoin Doyle scoring two with Raffaele Cretaro and Brush himself getting the others. Wilson Waweru scored for Rovers.
There were plenty of chances in the game if not a lot of running! Brush was called into action early on to keep out an effort from Cian Kavanagh while Darren Mansaram and Joseph N’Do had efforts off target for the Legends. It was the former players who broke the deadlock towards the end of the first half. N’Do held the ball up in midfield and released it to David Cawley, he played in Doyle who showed that he still had his predatory instincts as he scored with a well-placed finish.
They doubled their lead in the early stages of the second half. Alan Keane played a ball from the right to the feet of Cretaro. He steadied himself for a shot which flew into the top corner.
Soon after the Legends made it three. Keith Foy with a beautiful left foot ball from midfield that enable Doyle to get behind the Rovers defence only for him to be brought down inside the box. Brush came forward himself to take the resulting penalty and made no mistake as he sent his Rovers counterpart Conor Walsh the wrong way.
Soon after it was four. Paul McTiernan shielded the ball for Doyle who scored with well-placed effort through a sea of legs in a crowded goalmouth. Wilson Waweru pulled a goal back for Rovers late on but the day belonged to the Legends and in particular Richard Brush.
