Rovers end Dundalk hoodoo to avoid another early cup exit
Dundalk’s Daryl Horgan and Sligo’s Conor Reynolds battle for possession of the ball. Picture: INPHO/Andy Max
Two quickfire second half goals were enough to give Sligo Rovers a 2-0 win against First Division leaders Dundalk in their second round FAI Cup clash which was played in Oriel Park last Friday evening.
For Rovers they banished a couple of cup hoodoo’s as it was the first time since 1951 that they beat Dundalk in the FAI Cup and the first time in four years that they haven’t exited the cup at the first hurdle.
Buoyed by their recent good form, Rovers boss John Russell named unchanged side for the third game in a row. They started well and had an early chance to take the lead when in the fourth minute, James McManus played in Jad Hakiki with his shot on the turn being kept out by a smart save from Dundalk goalkeeper Enda Minogue.
Dundalk settled into the game soon after and had a couple of good efforts of their own. In the 24th minute John Ross Wilson played a ball from the right into the feet of Harry Groome and his shot from distance proved a comfortable catch in the end for Rovers goalkeeper Sam Sargeant. The same played had an even better chance just before half time. Again, it was ball in from the right from Wilson but this time he found Groome in space in the box, but the midfielder rushed his shot pulling it across goal and wide of the post.
Rovers then broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion six minutes into the second half. They won a corner on the right. Will Fitzgerald took it and swung the ball in towards the front post. It was cleared away by the home defence only as far as the waiting McManus. He set himself and arrowed the ball on the bounce into the top corner, giving Minogue in the Dundalk goal no chance.
Three minutes later and they doubled their lead. Ryan O’Kane linked up with Fitzgerald on the left. The Rovers winger then cut in on his right foot and sent in an in swinging cross which Jake Doyle-Hayes, with his back to goal, flicked into the net.
Dundalk responded well to going behind and had a chance to pull one back in the 57th minute. Aodh Dervin threaded a great ball into the feet of Gbemi Arubi with Sargeant alert to the danger as he was quick off his line to make the close range save. The Rovers goalkeeper was called into action soon after to deal with a curling shot from distance by Daryl Horgan that he turned round the post.
Dundalk had plenty of possession but were now being kept at bay by the Rovers defence, restricting them to long range efforts. Andy Paraschiv had one such strike in the 75th minute which he struck well with the ball landing on the roof of the net.
Their best chance came in the 84th minute. Dervin played in Dean Ebbe who found himself in on goal and he lifted the ball over the advancing Sargeant. It didn’t have enough on it to go into the net though as Patrick McClean was able to get back and clear the ball off the line ensuring Rovers progression to the third round.
It’s back to league action this coming Friday now for Rovers when they make the long journey down south to take on Cork City. Kick-off in Turner’s Cross is at 7:45pm.
