FAI CUP QUARTER-FINAL Sligo Rovers 3 Monaghan United 0:SLIGO ROVERS strolled into the semi-finals with an easier than expected win over First Division table toppers Monaghan United at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

Goals by Alan Keane, Romauld Boco and Mark McGoldrick gave Paul Cooke’s side a major boost ahead of next Saturday’s EA Sports Cup Final between the sides at the same venue.

Rovers dominated most of the play in the opening 45 minutes as the visitors offered very little up front.

The Monaghan defence coped very well with constant Sligo pressure until the 24th minute when Alan Keane drilled the ball low into the corner of Italian-born goalkeeper Garret Sava’s net from the penalty spot after John Russell was brought down by Conor McMahon.

Sligo manager Cooke was “over the moon with the win and the team’s progress, but anyone who goes away thinking that next weekend will be easy is in for a big shock”.

Romauld Boco and Matthew Blinkhorn were causing a lot of problems for the visitors in the first half with the Monaghan goalkeeper having to save a Boco free kick from the edge of the box on 22 minutes.

Monaghan’s dreams of a first ever semi-final appearance were to vanish 30 seconds into the second half.

An attempted clearance by Aidan Collins went straight to Boco who made no mistake from close range effectively ending the visitors’ chances. Substitute Mark McGoldrick scored Sligo’s third two minutes into stoppage time.

Monaghan boss Mick Cooke said, “We didn’t compete as we normally do and we haven’t conceded three goals all year. We fluffed a couple of chances but we were very confident in the second half.”

SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Keane, Laughlan, Davoren, Peers, Ryan, Russell (Ventre, 82 mins), Blinkhorn (McGoldrick, 88 mins), Ndo, Boco Doyle (Dillon 90).

MONAGHAN UNITED: Sava; Collins, Grimes, McMahon, Gartland, Tierney, O'Connor, Byrne, Brennan (Bermingham, half time), Hughes (Hanaphey, 82 mins), Clancy.

Referee: P Sutton(Dublin).