Super Sligo turn on style
The Bit O’Red’s arch-rivals travelled to the north-west with high hopes of reaching next month’s decider against Drogheda at the Aviva, but Ian Baraclough’s side had other ideas as they put their illustrious opponents under pressure from the start.
The Hoops found themselves a goal down at half-time after Danny Ventre fired past former Sligo keeper Richard Brush in a packed goalmouth.
However, the visitors were still well in the game up until the 74th minute.
It was then that Rafael Cretaro was then taken down in the box as the Tubbercurry man raced in on goal, resulting in referee Alan Kelly, taking charge of one of his last games on Irish soil, flashing a red card at Hoops defender Conor McCormack.
When Alan Keane fired the resultant penalty past Brush, Rovers were left with a mountain to climb.
Sligo were now rampant and Rovers’ miserable afternoon was complete when Sligo substitute Anthony Elding added the home side’s third goal two minutes from time, having come on to the field as a replacement for Cretaro just five minutes earlier.
A minute’s applause had been observed before the start of the match for the late Andy Tiernan, who was groundsman at the Showgrounds for more than 40 years.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Keane, McMillan, Henderson (Cawley 65), Davoren, Ndo, Ventre, Cretaro (Elding 84), Djilali, Greene, North (Conneely 67).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush, McCormack, Oman, McGuinness, Powell, Finn (Sheppard 81), Ryan, Robinson,
Dennehy (O’Connor 70), McCabe (Quigley 58), Stewart.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
