- Alan Finn
- Fri, May 25 2012
Monaghan United pulled off the upset of the round by knocking out defending Champions Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds by a scoreline of three goals to one. Jason Marks, Tony Griffiths and Keith Quinn from the penalty spot with the visitors goals after Mark Quigley's eighth minute opener for the home side.
Danny North saw a goal disallowed in the first minute when he was ruled offside. A harmless looking Alan Keane cross managed to deceive Michael Schlingermann who let it fall right to the feet of the League's top scorer. A debatable decision.
Sligo Rovers were applying pressure right from the off and got the goal they deserved after just eight minutes when Ross Gaynor was awarded a penalty after being taken down by Stephen Maher. Mark Quigley stepped up to confidently place the spot-kick in the top corner.
David Cawley could easily have doubled the home side's lead in the 25th minute when Quigley fed a great ball through to him, but he was unable to find a way past Schlingermann who got down well to block the shot away.
Monaghan United found a way back into the tie after 29 minutes through Tony Griffiths when he curled a great shot past Gary Rogers from the edge of the box after receiving a pass from Willo McDonagh.
Following that effort, the game really became bogged down in midfield for the rest of the opening half, with no chances of note from the half hour mark for either side.
Sligo Rovers started the brighter side in the second half and Alan Keane had the first real chance of the half when Quigley laid a ball off to him, but it was blocked away for a corner. From the resulting delivery Jason McGuinness headed over from close range.
Following a poor spell, Monaghan took the lead in bizarre fashion. Following a poor Gary Rogers clearance, Jason Marks found himself in possession and tried his luck with a cross-come-shot, and somehow managed to squeeze past Rogers and into the bottom corner.
Things went from bad to worse for Sligo Rovers just minutes later when Alan Keane was sent off, at this moment in time, for a reason no one seems to know and will most likely be clarified later.
The misery just kept on coming for the Cup holders when Mons were awarded a penalty after Danny Ventre took down an attacking player. Keith Quinn stepped up and squeezed the ball past Rogers who had guessed right and it was enough to see Monaghan United through to the next round as they knocked out a team looking to defend their Cup for a second year in a row.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers, Jake Dykes, Lee Lynch, David Cawley, Danny Ventre, Ross Gaynor, Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Marty Owens, John Dillon, Pascal Millien, Rafael Cretaro, Mark McGoldrick, Liam Martin
Monaghan United: Michael Schlingermann, Paul Whelan, Stephen Maher, Conor McMahon, Alan Byrne, Conor Murphy, Keith Quinn, Willo McDonagh, Shane Dunne, Tony Griffiths, Darragh Reynor
Subs not used: Chris Bennion, Roddy Collins, Bobby Ryan, Jason Marks, Michael Isichei
Referee: Paul McLoughlin
