Sligo Rovers - 2 St Patricks Athletic - 1: Although it can hardly described as a giant-killing, First Division leaders Sligo Rovers caused something of an upset by knocking St Patrick's Athletic out of the FAI Cup on Saturday evening at the Showgrounds.

Paul McTiernan scored the winning goal for the home team in the 69th minute against the run of play as the Premier Division team were making good headway in the second half after an unimpressive first half performance.

Robbie Doyle, who was causing all sorts of problems for Sligo's defence through his endless running, had a great chance to put St Patrick's into the lead on 57 minutes but his fiercely-struck effort was superbly saved by goalkeeper John O'Hara

Substitute Vinny Perth also had a fine effort saved by O'Hara in the 64th minute of a hard-fought contest.

Sligo were the more fluent side in the first half and both McTiernan and Seán Flannery went close to opening the scoring.

It was St Patrick's who scored the first goal, however, with what was their only real opportunity in the opening 45 minutes.

Chris Armstrong was fed by a Paul Donnelly cross from the right wing before releasing a piledriver of a volley from 25 yards which flew past the helpless O'Hara after 34 minutes.

The Connacht side replied with the equaliser six minutes later. Kupono Low beat St Patrick's goalkeeper Barry Ryan with a blistering shot to ensure it was all square at the half-time break.

McTiernan then completed the scoring to see Sligo through to the next round.

SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara, Cretaro, Low, McNamara, Burns, O'Grady, Foley (Rossiter, 65 mins), Kudozovic (Gorman, 85 mins), Flannery, McTiernan, McCann (Feeney, 37 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan, Prenderville, Bell, Caffrey, Maguire, Maher (Pert, 56 mins), Rowe (Dunne, 74 mins), Donnelly (Foley, 74 mins), Armstrong, Doyle, O'Connor.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).