FAI CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAY Monaghan Utd 0 Sligo Rovers 4:HOLDERS SLIGO Rovers rediscovered the high intensity game conspicuously absent in their recent outings to sweep into the quarter-finals of the FAI Ford Cup, outclassing First Division Monaghan United in this fourth-round replay at Gortakeegan.
When a Michael Isichei header threatened the Rovers’ goal, the Premier Division side appreciably upped the tempo, and were rewarded when a viciously inswinging Joseph Ndo corner was forced home at close range by Gavin Peers in the 23rd minute.
Rovers stretched their lead after 29 minutes, Eoin Doyle dropping deep to find Alan Kirby, whose perfectly weighted pass allowed Aaron Greene to race into the box and slide the ball home.
Two minutes later Kirby squandered a prime scoring chance when he poked wide from close quarters.
Roddy Collins’s men seemed to adopt damage limitation mode after that, although a few bursts of pace from lone striker Isichei kept Sligo vigilant at the back.
Early second-half efforts from John Reilly and Willo McDonagh suggested United were still in the game, but Rovers but the matter beyond doubt in the 53rd minute, Ndo elegantly finding Kirby, whose smart finish gave him the goal his contribution merited.
Great defending from United captain Alan Byrne prevented a Ritchie Ryan piledriver finding the target, and decent efforts from substitutes Fabio O’Brien and Paul Byrne showed the sort of Monaghan pluck that boss Collins was demanding from the sidelines.
Sava batted away a spectacular Eoin Doyle volley as the game wound down in intensity, Rovers boss Paul Cook withdrawing key performers Ndo and Ryan for tougher battles ahead.
But there was still time, with four minutes remaining, for Aaron Greene to grab his second.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Sava; Whelan, A Collins (Philip Byrne 59), A Byrne, Grimes; Reilly (Paul Byrne 54), McDonagh, R Brennan, Marks; S Brennan (O'Brien 54); Isichei.
SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Cretaro, McGuinness, Peers (Foran 66), Davoren; Kirby, Ryan (Dillon 66) Ventre, Ndo (Blinkhorn 73); Greene; Doyle.
Referee: Paul Tuite
