Sligo Rovers 1 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

• Jessica Farry
• Mon, Sep 19 2011


Cup holders Sligo Rovers continued their defence of the FAI Ford Cup after they defeated last year’s runners up Shamrock Rovers at an enthralling game at The Showgrounds. A first half goal from Eoin Doyle was all it took for Sligo to progress to the semi-finals.

The Tallaght side definitely started off the brighter and were putting constant pressure on the Sligo defence. Karl Sheppard had the first real chance of the game on five minutes when his close range effort from the left was just hit away by Sligo ‘keeper Brendan Clarke. Sheppard was again the danger man when he collected a mishit from Iarfhlaith Davoren but his header was just over.

The former Galway man could have put Rovers ahead just seconds later when he was isolated in front of Brendan Clarke. He got around Clarke but didn’t put enough pace in to his effort and Iarfhlaith Davoren was able to clear off the line. Rovers youngster Sean Gannon played a delightful ball in to the Sligo area which was cleared but Billy Dennehy headed just over.

Despite all the early pressure from the Hoops, the Bit 'o' Red did take the lead after 23 minutes. John Russell began the move and gave the ball to Aaron Greene who put a fantastic cross in to front of goal for Eoin Doyle to smash home. With a half-hour gone Ciaran Kilduff started to pressurise the Sligo back four and looked a serious threat. He crossed a perfect ball for Gary McCabe who flicked it back for Conor McCormack but his effort went agonisingly wide.

Alan Kelly has been a talking point at The Showgrounds on several occasions and early in the second half he missed a blatant penalty after an Alan Keane cross smacked the hand of Stephen O’Donnell. Dan Murray was defending fantastically well and got in the way of a John Russell opportunity. On the 72nd minute a fantastic free-kick from Richie Ryan smacked the crossbar.

The Hoops were given an injection of energy when Rohan Ricketts was brought on and he was in the middle of the action straight away. The former Tottenham Hotspur man linked up with Enda Stevens who crossed it in for Twigg but Brendan Clarke punched it away. Former Sligo number one Richard Brush pulled off a stunning block after Iarfhlaith Davoren flew through the middle and just slotted the ball to Doyle who hit it straight at Brush. There looked to have been a handball in the Sligo box after Alan Kelly gave a 94th minute free-kick to Rovers.

After the free-kick was cleared it was all over after a cracking game and a deserved victory for the Bit 'o' Red.

Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke, Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Jason McGuinness (Derek Foran, 42), Gavin Peers, Richie Ryan, Joseph Ndo, John Russell, Aaron Greene (Matthew Blinkhorn, 80), Eoin Doyle, Rafael Cretaro (Alan Kirby, 80).

Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush, Sean Gannon, Craig Sives, Dan Murray, Enda Stevens, Billy Dennehy (Ronan Finn, 57), Stephen O’Donnell, Ciaran Kilduff, Conor McCormack (Rohan Ricketts, 74), Karl Sheppard (Gary Twigg, 64), Gary McCabe.