Eoin Doyle got the only goal of the game as Sligo Rovers dumped Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup at The Showgrounds.
The Sligo Rovers striker rattled the net with a first time effort on 22 minutes, as the Bit O’ Red defeated Shamrock Rovers for the third game in succession.
The holders had a moment of real anxiety in the four minutes of stoppage time, however, as Stephen O’Donnell’s free-kick looked to hit Sligo’s Gavin Peers on the arm.
Referee Alan Kelly was unconvinced though, and maybe there was a little bit of justice for the home side, who also had strong calls for a handball in the area waved away by Kelly at the start of the second half.
Richie Ryan also smacked a free-kick of the crossbar in what was another thoroughly enjoyable contest between two well-matched teams.
Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill made six changes to his team and in came youngster Sean Gannon, Billy Dennehy, Karl Sheppard, Ciaran Kilduff and former Sligo players Richard Brush and Gary McCabe.
Sligo Rovers made two changes from the team that defeated Bray last Monday, with Aaron Greene returning from injury and Raffaele Cretaro recalled.
The Hoops started the livelier of the two teams, with Sheppard forcing a diving save from Sligo keeper Brendan Clarke on five minutes.
The striker had an even better chance three minutes later, when he beat the offside trap and raced onto a McCabe pass.
Clarke came rushing out to save, but Sheppard took it round him, only to see Alan Keane race back to prevent his shot from crossing the line.
But the hosts had a great chance to break the deadlock on 18 minutes, as Dan Murray’s clearance dropped to John Russell and he released Doyle, but the striker’s shot flew past the far post.
But he made no mistake with his second chance, firing home from close range after brilliant work from man of the match Russell, Joseph Ndo and Greene, who provided the final ball into the area.
The home side lost centre-back Jason McGuinness to a shoulder injury before the break, but they started the second half strongly, with Keane’s cross leading to the penalty calls, and Craig Sives making a good tackle to cut out Russell’s dangerous delivery.
Gary McCabe tried his luck from distance for the visitors, before Michael O’Neill sprung Finn, Twigg and Ricketts from the bench to try and force their way back into the game.
But Ryan almost doubled his side’s advantage on 71 minutes after Doyle was fouled on the edge of the area nut the Sligo captain saw his free crash off the woodwork.
Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness (Derek Foran 42), Iarfhlaith Davoren; Richie Ryan, John Russell, Aaron Greene (Alan Kirby 80), Joseph Ndo, Raffaele Cretaro (Matthew Blinkhorn 80); Eoin Doyle.
Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Conor Powell, John Dillon, Colm McLaughlin.
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush; Sean Gannon, Craig Sives, Dan Murray, Enda Stevens; Billy Dennehy (Ronan Finn 57), Stephen O’Donnell, Conor McCormack (Rohan Ricketts 72), Gary McCabe; Karl Sheppard (Gary Twigg 62), Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Robert Hughes, Stephen Rice, Gary O’Neill, Jim Paterson.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
