UCD shock Sligo Rovers to march on in FAI Cup

The hosts endured an off night against their First Division opposition. 

CUP UPSET: UCD manager William O'Connor. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Sligo Rovers 0 UCD 2 

Sligo Rovers were knocked out of the Sports Direct FAI Cup by First Division opposition for the sixth time in nine seasons as UCD stunned the Bit O'Red at the Showgrounds.

On what was a real off night for an in-form Rovers, it was a clinical Students side who took their chances through second half goals from Luke O'Regan and Adam Wells.

Rovers had previously suffered cup upset to second tier opposition five times since 2016, falling twice to both Longford and Wexford while Cork ejected the Connacht side from the cup in 2022.

A low key first half saw neither goalkeeper tested in an opening 45 which was more to the liking of the visitors than the hosts.

The first talking point of the tie arrived shortly after the half hour when Sligo had a penalty claim waved away.

Rovers winger Will Fitzgerald went down inside the College area after he felt a tug on his shirt. Sligo's Ollie Denham then slipped trying to take control of the subsequent clearance, allowing Michael Raggett through on goal. Referee Damien McGraith saved Denham's blushes however when he spotted an infringement between Denham and Raggett, the Mayo official's decision to award a free to the home side met with notable relief from the crowd.

The Premier Division side were led from the sideline by assistant boss Ryan Casey, owing to manager John Russell's ban. The duo's frustrations continued to the break as an unsettled Rovers continued to try and force the issue.

The closest they came to a first half opener was seven from the break when Luke Pearce, on his first start, headed across Dara Kavanagh's goal from a JR Wilson cross.

Former Sligo youth Niall Holohan's goal-ward header was cleared by Rovers skipper Niall Morahan early in the second half, just before Fitzgerald's volley struck the UCD crossbar as this game opened up.

There was another warning from the Students on 52 minutes when Adam Verdon's audacious effort from inside his own half landed on the roof of the Sligo net.

Kavanagh pulled off a wonderful stop fifteen minutes from time to deny Sligo sub Owen Elding's powerful first time effort, a moment which turned this game.

McGinty may have done better in his dealings with an O'Regan cross which sailed over his head for the opener on 78, whilst poor defending from Rovers allowed an 82nd minute corner sail all the way to the far post for substitute Adam Wells to tap home.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Ollie Denham (Wilson Waweru HT), Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Jack Henry-Francis, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 83); Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 59), Will Fitzgerald; Luke Pearce (Simon Power 72).

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Luke O'Regan, Niall Holohan (Alex Dunne 98), Eanna Clancy, Harry Curtis (Adam Wells 74); Sam Norval (Sean Brennan 64), Ronan Finn (Colin Bolton 96), Adam Verdon, Stephen Mohan (Hugh Parker 64); Michael Raggett (Donal Higgins 96), Jake Doyle.

Referee: Damien McGraith Attendance: 1,862.