Holders Sligo humbled

Monaghan shocked cup holders Sligo, who ended the night with 10 men, with a three-goal salvo at the Showgrounds last night.

Monaghan had struggled to get into the game in the opening minutes and Danny North went close to giving Sligo the lead in the first minute.

Mark Quigley then put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute after Ross Gaynor was taken down by Stephen Maher.

Monaghan keeper Michael Schlingermann denied North a second and also stopped David Cawley in his tracks. Monaghan squared the match in the 28th minute when Tony Griffiths beat Gary Rogers at the near post with a magnificent finish.

It all started to go wrong for Sligo when Jason Marks’ shot deceived Rogers before finding the net.

Alan Keane was then shown a straight red card in the 77th minute and Keith Quinn put Monaghan in dream land with his side’s third goal from the penalty spot seven minutes from time after Danny Ventre fouled Wilo McDonogh.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Dykes (Millien 63), Peers, McGuinness, Keane, Ventre, Cawley, Gaynor, Lynch, Quigley, North.

MONAGHAN UTD: Schlingermann, Whelan (Isichei 69), Maher, McMahon, Byrne, Murphy (Ryan 46), Quinn, McDonagh. Dunne (Marks 57), Griffiths, Reynor.

Referee: P McLaughlin, (Dublin).