Sport

Doyle's vital strike helps Sligo heap more misery on the champions

FAI CUP QUARTER-FINAL Sligo Rovers 1 Shamrock Rovers 0: SLIGO ROVERS dreams of winning back-to-back FAI cups are still on course…

Tue Sept 20 2011 - 01:00

FAI CUP QUARTER-FINAL Sligo Rovers 1 Shamrock Rovers 0:SLIGO ROVERS dreams of winning back-to-back FAI cups are still on course after this deserved victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds last night.

The Dubliners battled courageously over the 90 minutes but they were unable to find a way past Paul Cooke’s resolute side.

The Hoops had very few chances in the second half though a last-gasp free kick by Gary |McCabe was well blocked by the Sligo defence.

This was the visitors’ third defeat on the trot and they will be very anxious to now get their league challenge back on track as quickly as possible.

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After an untidy opening the Dubliners suddenly upped the tempo with Karl Sheppard testing Brendan Clarke in the home goal in the fourth minute.

Sheppard went close again on seven minutes before Sligo broke quickly with Raffaele Cretaro on the ball, but a free kick awarded after Cretaro was brought down 30 yards from goal came to nothing when Joseph Ndo’s ball in was cleared by the vigilant Hoops.

A speculative long-range shot by Shane Gannon caused an anxious moment for the Sligo goal keeper after 13 minutes.

Eoin Doyle missed a chance to put the cup holders ahead in the 20th minute blazing wide.

But Doyle made no mistake a minute later firing the ball past former Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush following clever play by Ndo, John Russell and Aaron Greene, who was returning to action after injury.

Good approach play by Greene resulted in a Sligo Rovers corner after 30 minutes but Ndo’s corner kick was gathered by \Brush.

Conor McCormack had a chance for Michael O’Neill’s side in the 35th minute but the ball was cleared by the Sligo defence.

Promising build-up play by Shamrock Rovers let Sheppard in on goal but his 20-yard effort flew wide of the target.

Ciaran Kilduff unhinged the Sligo defence on the stroke of half time but his shot again failed to hit the target.

Sligo had played well within themselves during the opening 45 minutes but the loss of star defender Jason McGuinness with a shoulder injury late in the half left the home side slightly exposed at the back.

Shamrock Rovers were impressive in the opening half but they allowed the home side too much freedom in front of goal at times.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Keane, Davoren, Peers, McGuinness, Ryan, Russell, Ndo, Cretaro, Greene, Doyle. Subs: Foran for McGuinness (41 mins), Blinkhorn for Greene (80 mins), Kirby for Cretaro (80 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush, Sives, Stevens, Murray, Gannon, McCabe, O'Donnell, Dennehy, Kilduff, McCormack, Sheppard, Subs: Finn for Dennehy (57 mins), Twigg for Sheppard (62 mins), Ricketts for McCormack (73 mins).

Referee: Alan Kelly,Cork.