Premier Division side Sligo Rovers overcame the challenge of Home Farm/Everton to reach the final of the National League Cup for the second time in three years, but they were hanging on anxiously in the closing stages at the Showgrounds last night.
The only goal of a low-key contest came after just 10 minutes. Padraig Moran latched on to Lee Thew's precise pass, outpaced Damien Maher and guided the ball into the net via the far upright.
Sligo continued to make most of the early running and Home Farm were lucky not to fall further behind in the 22nd minute when a scorching free kick by Neill Ogden crashed against the cross-bar. Sligo had a narrow escape in the 56th minute when to Mark Gill's snap shot beat goalkeeper Nicky Broujos, but came back off the underside of the cross-bar.
Sligo Rovers: Broujos, Birks, Hutchinson, Reid, Hare, Doig, Jones, Moran, Thew, Hallows, Ogden. Subs: Southworth for Jones, 78 mins; Flannery for Hallows, 89 mins.
HF/Everton: Whelan, Ferguson, Keenan, Maher, Place, Byrne, Doyle, McGauley, Gill, Heary, Kenny. Sub: Lally for McGauley, halftime. Referee: A O'Regan (Cork)
