The Reds moved in front after just nine minutes, though, when Liam Boyce side-footed past Rovers 'keeper Ciaran Kelly only for the visitors to level through Rob Turner on 24 minutes after he got on the end of a Dean Marshall cross to head home from close range..

Turner edged Sligo in front six minutes before half-time when he pounced on a weak Paul McKane clearance although it did take two attempts to beat the teenage 'keeper.

However, Cliftonville clawed their way back into the game on 67 minutes courtesy of 20-year-old defender Jason Bannon and his thumping drive from the edge of the area.

But just six minutes later Rovers struck the fatal blow when Marshall found himself in space to turn home a corner from inside the box.