Killester claim battling draw

Battling non-league side Killester United earned an unlikely home replay with eircom Premier Division side Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds after surviving a pounding to claim a scoreless draw in the FAI Cup.

Sean Connor's men dominated the game on their home patch but came up against a determined Killester side that repeatedly threw themselves in front of the ball at the last minute to deny Rovers a berth in the the semi-finals.

Rovers, who were also taken to a replay by non-league side Malahide United in last year's competition, opted to rest in-form striker Darren Mansaram, which meant a second successive start for Matthew Judge up front. He was partnered by Adam Hughes.

Hughes could have put his side ahead on just two minutes when Judge's cross flashed across the face of goal but the Australian could not reach it.

Rovers captain Michael McNamara also saw an early header cleared off the line by Killester, while a cross from Fahrudin Kudozovic also caused havoc in the Dublin club's box.

At the other end, Kenny Curley went close with a shot from the edge of the area, but Rovers continued to look dangerous and Kudozovic's snapshot on 10 minutes was just over Lee Murphy's crossbar.

Chris Turner did well to get a head to Hughes's cross four minutes later, but he couldn't direct the ball towards goal, and Killester had another narrow escape when McNamara touched Turner's corner to Hughes and he shot on the turn but again Murphy wasn't tested.

Joey Graydon's side were under severe pressure but they almost took a shock lead on 18 minutes when Jason Donnery and Mark O'Connell combined to tee up Michael Keogh, but his shot was well-saved by John O'Hara.

Rovers had a series of corners midway through the ball, but were foiled on a number of occasions by impressive Killester youngster Alan Murphy.

Killester's David Sheridan saw a close range effort bounce off the top of the crossbar on a rare venture forward by his team, but he had been ruled offside in any case.

Judge forced a save out of Lee Murphy with a neat bicycle kick shortly before the break but the AUL Premier A champions went to the break scoreless.

The second half began much more evenly and Ross Carrig went close for Killester when he met a 53rd minute corner, but he couldn't keep the effort down.

Rovers' frustrations became all the more evident as Harpal Singh was booked after sparking a scuffle with a crude challenge on Shane Dunne.

Kudozovic flashed another shot over before Connor introduced striker Paul McTiernan for the Bosnian in an effort to force an opener.

His first contribution was to direct a Singh corner back across goal but once again Killester were defending in numbers and the danger was averted.

McTiernan's speed was making a difference but he too failed to hit the target just after the hour-mark when Jamie MacKenzie's cross found its way into his via Hughes.

Rovers should have broke the deadlock when substitute Gavin Peers swung a cross from the right and Singh headed it down for Hughes on the edge of the six-yard box.

But Killester backs Ross Carrig and man of the match Ian Graham heroically threw themselves in front of the ball to deflect the danger.

The pressure on Killester's goal was relentless at this stage but Killester found themselves two-on-two with a sharp counter-attack, only for McNamara to track back and make block the route of Killester substitute David Lacey.

Killester failed to test John O'Hara from a couple of subsequent corners but Lee Murphy was forced into a save to deny Singh from a free-kick at the other end.

Chris Turner flashed a close range header wide on 73 minutes and Lee Murphy turned McTiernan's stinging effort onto the post with 13 minutes left.

Turner also sent a late effort narrowly over the crossbar but Killester hung on to claim a famous result for the club and a replay in Tolka Park on Thursday.

Sligo Rovers: John O'Hara, Liam Burns (Gavin Peers 35), Michael McNamara (c), Jamie MacKenzie, Adam Hughes, Conor O'Grady, Chris Turner, Fahrudin Kudozovic (Paul McTiernan 60), Harpal Singh, Matthew Judge (Choice Aisien 88).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Emyln Mulligan, Seamus Coleman, Gary Curran.

Killester United: Lee Murphy, Shane Dunne, Ross Carrig, Stephen Murphy, Alan Murphy (Darren Murphy 70), Jason Donnerry, Ian Graham, Kenny Curley, Mark O'Connell (David Lacey 65), Michael Keogh, David Sheridan (James McGrath 79).
Subs not used: Keith Donohoe, Alan Connors, Mark Alguaidy, Ciaran McLoughlin.

Referee: Richie Winter.