skip to main content

Sligo Rovers 2-1 Bohemians

Conor O'Grady was on the mark as Sligo booked their place in the semi-final for the first time since 2006
Conor O'Grady was on the mark as Sligo booked their place in the semi-final for the first time since 2006

Conor O’Grady and Eoin Doyle saved the blushes of team-mate Gavin Peers as Sligo Rovers knocked Bohemians out of the Ford FAI Cup at The Showgrounds.

A first half error from Peers had allowed Glenn Cronin to put the league and cup champions ahead before the break.

But O'Grady equalised after some great work by Raffaele Cretaro on 67 minutes.

And just a fortnight after beating them in the league, Doyle won it for the home side when O’Grady's shot dropped nicely for him inside the area just four minutes later.

Sligo named an unchanged side from the team that drew on Friday, but the Gypsies boss Pat Fenlon brought strikers Jason Byrne and Paddy Madden into his team, with Glen Crowe and Anto Murphy dropping to the bench.

The Dublin side were forced into a change before the break, however, as Jason McGuinness picked up a knock and was replaced my Murphy.

The Cup holders got the breakthrough on 43 minutes, with an uncharacteristic error by Peers. His attempt to deal with a ball played in behind him lacked conviction, and Paddy Madden stole in to rob possession.

Richard Brush got down well to make a decent stop, but Cronin followed up and fired into the roof of the net past a defender on the line.

It was no more than Fenlon's side deserved, as they attacked with purpose and menace in the early stages. Killian Brennan, Madden and captain Paul Keegan all worked keeper Brush with shots on target, with Bohs also forcing a succession of corners midway through the half.

Paul Cook summoned Owen Morrison and Alan Keane from the bench on the hour-mark to try and shake things up for his side.

And it worked too, with Romuald Boco and Matthew Blinkhorn combining to release Cretaro into space on 67 minutes. The striker raced through and dragged Brian Murphy out of his goal, before squaring for Conor O'Grady to hit the net.

Jason Byrne snapped a half-chance over the top at the other end immediately after, but Rovers amazingly went ahead just four minutes later, when a corner dropped out to O’Grady at the edge of the area and his shot was deflected to Doyle in the box, with the former Shamrock Rovers man firing to the net.

Bohemians introduced Glen Crowe in the closing minutes and laid siege on the Rovers goal, but they couldn’t force an equaliser, as Rovers progressed to the semi-finals.

Sligo Rovers: 1 Richard Brush; 2 Romuald Boco, 4 Gavin Peers, 5 Martin Camano (15 Alan Keane 65), 3 Joe Kendrick; 7 Brian Cash (16 Owen Morrison 62), 6 Conor O’Grady (captain), 8 Danny Ventre, 11 Eoin Doyle; 9 Matthew Blinkhorn, 10 Raffaele Cretaro.

Subs not used: 12 Rob Turner, 13 Dean Marshall, 14 Richie Ryan, 17 Ciaran Kelly, 18 Darren Meenan.

Bohemians: 1 Brian Murphy; 2 Mark Rossiter (15 Glen Crowe 89), 5 Brian Shelley, 6 Jason McGuinness (18 Anto Murphy 34), 3 Conor Powell; 11 Killian Brennan (16 Gary Deegan 81), 7 Paul Keegan (captain), 4 Glenn Cronin, 8 Joseph Ndo; 9 Paddy Madden, 10 Jason Byrne.

Subs not used: 25 Matt Gregg, 12 Neale Fenn, 17 Marc Hughes, 14 Owen Heary.

Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).

Read Next