Sligo Rovers had to come from a goal behind to beat Finn Harps 4-1 at The Showgrounds and book their place in the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup on Monday evening.
Two goals from Romuald Boco, plus one apiece from Conor O’Grady and Alan Keane saw the Premier Division side overcome their First Division opponents.
Marc Brolly had opened the scoring after just five minutes, but Boco’s double put Rovers in front before O’Grady killed the game off with a third just two minutes into the second half.
Harps had the best of starts, and were in front within five minutes. Marc Brolly let fly with a cross-cum-shot from the right-hand side of the box, and the ball sailed over Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush and hit the net via the crossbar.
But the home side were deservedly level by the half-hour mark, when Owen Morrison’s pass picked out Boco inside the area, and the Benin international calmly finished.
But if Boco’s first was well-taken, his second was simply brilliant as he left Harps 'keeper Ciaran Gallagher stranded with a 25-yard thunderbolt four minutes before the break.
Boco could have had a hat-trick in the first half, but he headed straight at Gallagher when he was picked out by Ross McLaughlin’s cross close to goal.
McLaughlin, making his first start of the season, was the provider again as Rovers made it 3-1 just two minutes after the restart. The winger’s cross was met by the inrushing Conor O’Grady, who made no mistake in heading home.
Full-back Alan Keane got the fourth on the hour mark, when he dipped a left-footed shot over Gallagher from just inside the area.
Rafael Cretaro could have added another when he was played in by Morrison’s throughball, but Gallagher got down well to make the save.
Sligo Rovers: Brush, Keane, Peers, Feeney, Holmes (Keohane 85), Morrison, O’Grady (Ventre 61), Ryan, McLaughlin (Torpey 69), Cretaro, Boco. Subs not used: Kelly, Cash.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Rossiter, Coll, McGowan, Mukendi, Bonner, Connaughan (Whoriskey 76), Harkin (Malley HT), Brolly, Funston (McMenamin 58), McDaid. Subs not used: Houston, Corny Gallagher.
Referee: P Sutton.
