Sligo Rovers fell to their first defeat of pre season today[ Sunday] as they went down 2-1 to Monaghan United at the Showgrounds

Rovers started well and dominated the beginning of the game. In the 4th minute Fahrudin Kudozivic found space and crossed the ball for Choice Aisien but his effort was blocked and his rebound trickled wide. It was the Nigerian who again had the chance in the 17th minute, excellent play by Jason Mc Cartney led to Aisien being played in but he could not control the ball and the chance was gone.

The opening goal eventually arrived in the 20th minute. Conor O Grady was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Raf Cretaro stepped up. His shot was deflected which left the goalkeeper stranded and the first goal of 2007 in the Showgrounds had been scored.

Rovers continued to press and could have been two up minutes later as a great cross by the impressive Sean Kelly let Kudozivic beat the offside trap but good reactions from the Monaghan keeper forced him wide and his shot could only find the side netting.The first quarter of the game had been dominated by the home side but as the half went on United got themselves into the game and they started to create openings. They equalized in the 36th minute with a brilliantly taken goal by Willie Doyle. The former Premier Division winner lobbed the ball over Tomislav Arcaba for a deserved equalizer. Monaghan grew in confidence and had successive chances in the 39th minute.First Finbar Heffernan had a shot that was acrobatically saved by Arcaba and then the impressive Doyle forced the Australian into another smart save. The teams went in level at half time

Rob Mc Donald made one chance at the start of the 2nd half with well known local player Gino O' Boyle coming on for Kudozivic. The half time break did not disrupt Monaghan's rhythm as they continued to trouble the Rovers defence. In the 49th minute they took the lead after the ball was played long to Doyle who turned and expertly shot past Arcaba. A minute later it was again Doyle who tested Arcaba but this time the U20 international was equal to it.
           

The home side slowly began to improve following this and Jason Mc Cartney made space for himself with a trademark mazy dribble but unfortuntetly his shot was too high to trouble the Monaghan goalkeeper.In the 61st minute Raf Cretaro delivered a set piece from the right but frustratingly a number of players could not get a significent touch. The home side were strugglying to find a way to get by the keeper as this time sub Oisin Mannion was denied by Mc Quaid . Choice Aisien and trialist Gino O'Boyle had efforts saved by substitute keeper Ronan Mc Gann in the final 15 minutes and Monaghan held out and could have scored a third goal on the break near the end. The referee blew the full time whistle and manager Rob Mc Donald suffered his first defeat as manager as Sligo Rovers in what had been a frustrating afternoon for all supporters and players in Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers: Arcaba ,Peers (Coleman 82) , Mc Kenzie , Strong ,Kelly (Foy 57), Kudozivic (O'Boyle 45) , O' Grady , Hughes(Mannion 59) , Cretaro ,Mc Cartney ,Aisien\

Monaghan United: McQuaid , Whelan , Kerry , Burke , Mooney , D'arcy  , Heffernan , Hussein , Farrell , Doyle , Williamson  Subs : Smyth , Toal , Bannon , O'Connor  , McGann

Click here for the managers reaction.