Monaghan United 0 - 4 Sligo Rovers

• Peter Hughes
• Thu, Sep 01 2011


After a tense battle at the Showgrounds on Saturday night that could have gone either way, FAI Cup holders Sligo Rovers rediscovered their thoroughbred class to easily outdistance First Division Monaghan United in this fourth round rematch at Gortakeegan.

Even the home fans were purring at the elegance and precision of some of Rovers’ passing play, which carved out a brace of goals for Aaron Greene and one apiece for Gavin Peers and, well-merited man of the match, Alan Kirby.

The game, in many respects, picked up where the original tie had left off, with Sligo monopolising the ball but finding little purchase against a defiant and well organised United defence in which Alan Byrne was commander-in-chief. In fact it was United who carved out the first significant chance, Jason Marks forcing a corner from which a slick series of short passing movements allowed Shane Grimes to plant the ball onto the head of Michael Isichei, whose effort flew just past the upright.

There was an appreciable raising of tempo from Rovers after that and Joseph Ndo began to make dangerous inroads into the United rearguard. Ndo produced a moment of magic in the 23rd minute with a viciously swerving corner kick that eluded the grasp of Gabriel Sava in the United goal and was helped over the line by centre back Gavin Peers – although the trajectory of the ball suggested that it might have been going in anyway.

Rovers doubled their advantage four minutes later, a pristine passing movement that saw Eoin Doyle come deep to link with Kirby, whose perfect strength through pass allowed Greene to race clear of the United defenders and slot the ball into the bottom corner clear of the advancing Sava.

United understandably adopted a damage limitation approach after that which got them to the interval without further travail, only a few bursts of pace from lone striker Isichei causing the Sligo defence any bother.

Roddy Collins sent his side out with some fire in their bellies for the second half, and an early rasper from John Reilly forced Ciaran Kelly into his first save of the game. A good Monaghan opening to the half also saw midfielder Willo McDonagh presented with a great scoring chance from Sean Brennan’s astute pass, but he drove the ball straight at Kelly, who saved comfortably.

It was a key moment as Rovers put the game beyond doubt in the 51st minute following great work from Ndo, whose awareness found Kirby an avenue through on goal. An emphatic finish did the rest.

Rovers threatened to run rampant after that, and United captain Alan Byrne made the first of several crucial interventions for his side when he threw his body in the way of a pile-driver from his Sligo counterpart Richie Ryan. United, however, never totally capitulated.

Substitutes Fabio O’Brien, with a powerful, narrowly off target header, and Paul Byrne, with an audacious first-time flicked volley that crept just wide, showed admirable defiance in the face of the Sligo superiority.

Rovers boss Paul Cooke also rang the changes, withdrawing key men such as Ndo and Ryan, but while the intensity of the game slackened, Sligo didn’t lose their thirst for goals. Sava had to be at his best to defy Doyle, first from an acrobatic volley and then from a low drive from well outside the box that forced the United keeper into a full-stretch stop.

Four minutes remained on the clock when Aaron Greene grabbed his second, driving powerfully home with his left foot from the area of the penalty spot after Sligo had prised the United defence apart with more crisp passing.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Paul Whelan, Aidan Collins (Philip Byrne, 59), Alan Byrne, Shane Grimes; John Reilly (Paul Byrne, 54), Willo McDonagh, Ryan Brennan, Jason Marks; Sean Brennan (Declan O’Brien, 54); Michael Isichei.
Subs not used: Kevin Loughran, Roddy Collins, Jake Rossiter.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Raffaele Cretaro, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers (Derek Foran, 66), Iarfhlaith Davoren; Alan Kirby, Richie Ryan (John Dillon, 66) Ventre, Joseph Ndo (Mathew Blinkhorn, 73) Aaron Greene; Eoin Doyle.
Subs not used: Anthony Havlin, Conor Powell.

Referee: Paul Tuite.
Extratime Man of the Match: Alan Kirby.