FAI CUP - Dundalk 3 - 0 Sligo Rovers

Dundalk sent Sligo Rovers home on the end of a 3-0 defeat for the second time in a fortnight at Oriel Park on Friday night. The Lilywhites were highly impressive as they brushed aside the challenge of cup holders Sligo and advanced to the next round in style.

The home side had the better of a quiet opening 10 minutes, stringing together some nice passing moves, while Sligo opted for a slightly more direct route as they sought to get the ball in behind the home defence and use Aaron Greene’s pace to full effect.

Greene had a hand in setting up the first real chance of the game, exchanging a neat one-two with Eric Odhiambo who shot narrowly wide from eight yards.

Moments later, Dundalk had an even better chance when David McMillan, making a rare start in place of the injured Pat Hoban, was played through by Darren Meenan. His shot brought out the best in Sligo ‘keeper Gary Rogers, who saved well with his legs.

Darren Meenan’s corners were causing all sorts of problems in the Sligo defence with Brian Gartland and Dane Massey both going very close with headers.  At the other end, Odhiambo was orchestrating Sligo’s attack well, linking up with Greene on a number of occasions but failing to cause any real problems for Dundalk.

The opening goal came in the 31^st minute and it was an example of route-one football at its very best; Gartland picked the ball up at the back, spotted Richie Towell in an advanced position in the opposing half, launched a pinpoint cross-field ball, Towell controlled first time and slipped McMillan through. McMillan took at touch and fired the ball clinically past Rogers into the roof of the Sligo net for his 10^th goal of the season – not bad for a player who has only started four league games to date.

As the half drew to a close, Sligo came into the game considerably more with some neat patterns of play, although they failed to ever really test Peter Cherrie. It was the home crowd who were happiest at half time as their side went into the break leading by one goal to nil.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Dundalk doubled their lead. McMillan turned from goal scorer to provider as he laid the ball off to Horgan inside the Sligo box and Horgan made no mistake, finishing exquisitely past Rogers and into the bottom corner of the net.

Moments later, Dundalk had Cherrie to thank as he saved well from Greene, preventing Sligo from finding an avenue back into the game.

Dundalk really were in full stride at that point, playing some fine flowing football and not allowing Sligo anything more than a sniff of possession. Chris Shields was immense at stuffing out any danger at first sight, while the attacking four of Meenan, Horgan, McMillan and Byrne were demonstrating and almost telepathic relationship, weaving sequence after sequence of intricate passing and leaving the Sligo players chasing shadows for long periods.

On 65 minutes, Dundalk put the game well and truly to bed as their third goal duly arrived via Brian Gartland. Gary Rogers failed to deal convincingly with McMillan’s snap shot and Gartland was on hand to bundle the ball home and bundle Sligo out of the cup.

Towell could have made it four for the home side just inside the last 15 minutes of the game, getting on the end of a beautiful move involving Gartland, Meenan and McMillan but he fired inches wide with the goal at his mercy.

3-0 was how it finished at Oriel Park, the home side advancing to the next round of the cup while the holders relinquished their title.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Darren Meenan, Richie Towell (Marc Griffin, 87’), Chris Shields, Daryl Horgan (Ruaidhri Higgins, 82); Kurtis Byrne (John Mountney, 65’), David McMillan.
Substitutes not used: Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Ciaran O’Connor, Gabriel Sava (GK).
Booked: Dane Massey (77’)

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Joseph Ndo (Sean Maguire, 82’), Danny Ledwith, Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor; Danny North, Paul O’Connor, John Russell, Kalen Spillane; Eric Odhiambo (Raffaele Cretaro, 60’), Aaron Greene.
Substitutes not used:  Regan Donelon, Jordan Loftus, Richard Brush (GK).
Booked: Ross Gaynor (26’), Danny North (90+4).

Referee: Paul Tuite
Attendance: 2,016
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David McMillan