Report courtesy, www.fai.ie

Battling non-league side Killester United earned an unlikely home replay with eircom Premier Division side Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds after surviving a pounding to claim a scoreless draw in the quarter-final of the FAI Carlsberg Cup.

Sean Connor’s men dominated the game on their home patch but came up against a determined Killester who repeatedly threw themselves in front of the ball at the last minute to deny Rovers a passage into the semi-finals.

Rovers captain Michael McNamara saw an early header cleared off the line by Killester, while a cross from Fahrudin Kudozovic also caused havoc in the Dublin club’s box, but Rovers couldn’t capitalise despite their a sparkling opening.

Joey Graydon’s side were under severe pressure but they almost took a shock lead on 18 minutes when Jason Donnery and Mark O’Connell combined to tee up Michael Keogh, but his shot was well-saved by John O’Hara.

Bosnian Fahrudin Kudozovic had an even better chance two minutes later when Adam Hughes’s blocked shot dropped to him in the box, but he sent his effort wide.

Rovers’ frustrations became all the more evident in the second-half as Harpal Singh was booked after sparking a scuffle with a crude challenge on Shane Dunne.

Substitute Paul McTiernan’s speed was making a difference but he too failed to hit the target just after the hour-mark when Jamie MacKenzie’s cross found its way into him via Hughes.

Rovers should have broken the deadlock when substitute Gavin Peers swung a cross from the right and Singh headed it down for Hughes on the edge of the six-yard box.

But Killester backs Ross Carrig and man of the match Ian Graham heroically threw themselves in front of the ball to deflect the danger.

Turner also sent a late effort narrowly over the crossbar but Killester hung on to claim a famous result for the club and a replay in Tolka Park on Thursday.

Sligo Rovers: O’Hara, Burns (Peers 35), McNamara (c), MacKenzie, Hughes, O’Grady, Turner, Kudozovic (McTiernan 60), Singh, Judge (Aisien 88).
Subs not used: Brush, Mulligan, Coleman, Curran.

Killester United: Murphy, Dunne, Carrig, Murphy, Murphy (Murphy 70), Donnerry, Graham, Curley, O’Connell (Lacey 65), Keogh, Sheridan (McGrath 79).
Subs not used: Donohoe, Connors, Alguaidy, McLoughlin.
Referee: Mr. R.Winter.