It took penalties to finally separate the sides but Ed McGinty was Sligo Rovers' hero as he kept out two spot-kicks in a dramatic Showgrounds shootout as the Bit O’Red knocked Bala Town out of Europe.
David Edwards had the Welsh side ahead on the night and level in the tie ten minutes from half-time. And although there were chances at both ends, neither side could muster a winner.
In front of a sell-out crowd of almost four thousand, it was McGinty who kept out penalties from both John Spittle and Luke Wall to send the Bit O’Red through to a second-round date with Scottish side Motherwell - where McGinty was born.
With the slight cushion of a one-goal lead courtesy of a Max Mata winner in the opening leg, Sligo made two changes from that game seven days previous.
The experienced Garry Buckley replacing the suspended Nando Pijnaker, while Estonian international Frank Liivak came in for his first start since signing on at the Showgrounds.
The visitors made two changes from the first leg. Bradley Bauress and Oliver Southern, both second half substitutes in that game, taking their place in Colin Caton’s first eleven.
Needing to win by two goals to progress, it the Welsh side who forced the first chance of this game.
With nothing on in front of him, Kieran Smith pulled an impressive, full-stretch save from Rovers stopper McGinty from all of 25 yards on the quarter hour.
Sligo were knocked out at the same stage in this competition by Icelandic side FH last year and were looking to ease the anxiety of the bumper crowd early on.
The were offered a great chance in the 23rd minute. Niall Morahan connected with Adam McDonnell’s corner in front of goal, but saw his glancing header bounce wide of Alex Ramsay’s far post.
Shane Blaney could only nod Karl O’Sullivan’s corner into the turf and well wide of the target just short of the half hour. While Bala’s Nathan Peate almost squeezed the ball past McGinty at the opposite end after latching on to Bauress’ squared ball to the back post.
The stress levels rose significantly across the ground in the 35th minute when the Lakesiders hit the goal which levelled the tie.
Lassana Mendes’ initial cross was repelled before possession fell to Bauress. The 26-year-old’s attempt landing perfectly on the foot of the former Welsh international Edwards, who stunned the Showgrounds with a classy first-time finish past McGinty.
The much sought-after goalkeeper had to be on his toes six minutes into the second period after the lively Mendes caught Chris Venable’s cross on the volley. McGinty’s speedy reaction allowing him to get in front of the effort.
Substitute James Davies should have had the Welsh side leading in the tie on 59 minutes.
Rovers’ Colm Horgan failed to stop the midfielder as he broke following a Bala counter. Davies looked favourite to slot home Bala’s second, but McGinty timed his challenge perfectly, dropping at the feet of the former Newtown man to scoop the ball away as the attacker attempted to round him.
Lewis Banks was only minutes on the pitch when he smashed wide two efforts in close succession. While McDonnell was only inches away with a laced, ranged effort moments later as the League of Ireland side continued their search for the goal which would swing this affair in their favour.
But it was the Welsh side who almost stole the show in the third minute of injury time. Mendes swinging the ball towards Antony Kay, whose shot on the turn was somehow kept out by the pouncing McGinty.
And so to extra-time.
McGinty flapped at Wall’s free kick, but was relieved to see Kay’s resulting header deflected away for a corner on 96. While Edwards worked the goalkeeper again two minutes later after Venables’ clever reverse pass played in the ex-Wolves man.
Sligo’s Will Fitzgerald could then only nod O’Sullivan’s cross straight into Ramsay’s arms in the 102nd minute as a now raucous home support bayed for a goal.
There was then a moment of panic for Ramsay when he dropped the ball in front of Aidan Keena only to recover possession instantly, mid-way through the second period. While Wall looked like he had Bala’s second when the ball struck the crossbar and bounced off the goal-line.
The team of Dutch officials ruling the whole of the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
There was then heartbreak for Caton’s charges in the shoot-out as Sligo scored all four, while McGinty held his nerve to keep out both Spittle and Wall.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Colm Horgan (Lewis Banks 65), Garry Buckley, Shane Blaney, Paddy Kirk; Niall Morahan (Cillian Heaney 76), Adam McDonnell (Kailin Barlow 99); Frank Liivak (Will Fitzgerald HT), Karl O'Sullivan; Max Mata (David Cawley 70), Aidan Keena.
Bala Town: Alex Ramsay; Ross White, Nathan Peate, Antony Kay, Oliver Southern (John Spittle 105); Kieran Smith, David Edwards, Bradley Bauress (Luke Wall 90); Paul Rutherford (James Davies 53) (Naim Arsan 115), Chris Venables, Lassana Mendes.
Referee: Jochem Kamphuis (Netherlands).
