Derry City 3-3 Sligo Rovers (Derry win 5-3 on pens)
Stephen Kenny's young Derry City side beat a strong Sligo Rovers on penalties after extra-time in the EA Sports semi-final in the Brandywell.
And making the victory all the more impressive was that Derry accomplished it after Danny Lafferty had been sent off in injury time at the end of normal time for a last-man tackle on Danny Ventre.
However, the hero of the night was, without doubt, winger Stephen McLaughlin, having netted two goals before striking home Derry's vital fifth penalty after Sligo's Richie Ryan had missed his side's third spot kick.
Having made no fewer than seven changes to the team which defeated Bohemians on Friday night, Stephen Kenny will have been delighted with the efforts of his kids who now face Cork in the decider on 24 September.
Derry may have ridden their luck on quite a few occasions throughout the game and while short on experience they battled against the well drilled and well organised Bit O'Red who started without Joseph Ndo.
Derry broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Emmet Friars flicked on Ruairi Harkin’s free and Danny Lafferty ghosted in at the back post to head the ball pass Brendan Clarke.
But Sligo levelled on the stroke of half-time when Ritchie Ryan cut the ball back into the path of the advancing Danny Ventre and the midfielder crashed a superb shot to the net from 25 yards.
With Derry keeper Eugene Ferry regularly involved in the action, Derry caught Sligo on the counter-attack in the 75th minute to move back into the driving seat.
Harkin’s teasing cross met by the head of McLaughlin whose downward header gave Clarke no chance from close range.
Four minutes later Sligo deservedly levelled, Aaron Green driving the ball low across the face of goal before Eoin Doyle controlled it before lashing the ball home from 10 yards.
During injury time Danny Lafferty was sent off for a last-man tackle on Ventre seconds before the game entered extra-time.
McLaughlin then produced a superb strike before Doyle netted his second in the 108th minute with the crowd on its feet at 3-3.
In the penalty shoot out Derry netted all five penalties with McLaughlin scoring the vital fifth after Richie Ryan had his spot kick saved by Ferry to send the young Candystripes through.
Derry City: Eugene Ferry; Shane McEleney (Eddie McCallion, 77), Ryan McBride, Emmet Friars, Daniel Lafferty; Stephen McLaughlin, James Henry (Barry Molloy, 70), Ruaidhri Higgins, Michael McCrudden (Owen Morrison, 52); Ruairi Harkin, David McDaid.
Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke; Rafaele Cretaro, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell; Danny Ventre (Kirby, 104), Richie Ryan, John Russell; Aaron Green (Ndo, 84), Matthew Blinkhorn, Eoin Doyle.
Referee: Mr. Richie Winter (Wicklow)
