| Rovers progress after thriller in Tolka |
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| Sunday, 17 June 2007 | |
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Sligo Rovers are through to the third round of the FAI FORD Cup following a thoroughly deserved 3-2 win over Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park last night.
FAI Ford Cup Second Round Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 3 By: Liam Ó Maoldomhnaigh, courtesy The Sligo Weekender WHATEVER about achieving the consistency that is essential at this level, since Paul Cook’s tenure began at the end of April, Sligo Rovers have displayed a fantastic capacity to win the big matches - in a very big way. Fans still revel in the sparkling home defeats of Cork City and Sean Connor’s Bohemians - the former 4-1 and the latter via a stoppage-time winner. But Saturday night’s 3-2 FAI Ford Cup second round victory, an uplifting 3-2 away defeat of Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park, surpassed even these marvellously gleaned results. Superbly-finished goals from ‘Player of the Match’ Fahrudin Kuduzovic, who scored twice, and Matthew Judge - between them, they have supplied 11 of the 17 goals that Sligo Rovers have bagged so far - as well as a variety of sterling displays, ranging from full-back Seamus Coleman’s typical zest to Conor O’Grady’s selfless grafting, launched the Bit O’Red into the last 16 of the only competition left for them to win this season. A second-half injury to Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Brian Murphy and the subsequent lengthy delay due to onfield treatment resulted in 17 minutes of stoppage-time. The stricken net-minder, who was taken to hospital as a precaution in case of neck/spinal damage, sustained the sickening setback after a comical collision with team-mate Dean Lawrence - their gaffe allowed the ball to spill to a grateful Fahrudin Kuduzovic, who made it 3-2 in the 64th minute. What turned out to be the winning goal came just 60 seconds after Shamrock Rovers’ wily striker, Andy Myler, tied matters at 2-2 with a fine volley. The seemingly endless period of stoppage-time saw Sligo Rovers unwittingly dragged into their own half but Shamrock Rovers, although they carved several half-chances in an often crowded penalty area, were unable to force an equaliser. Sheer resilience kept the margin intact and pockets of admirable defending - in this regard, goalkeeper Richard Brush earned his corn, as did centre-back Jamie MacKenzie, while Conor O’Grady and Adam Hughes, the team’s only definitive central midfield partnership now that Turner has skipped, assisted their team-mates on numerous occasions. Pre-match talk bubbled with the unwanted news that Sligo Rovers’ Northern Ireland U-21 international Chris Turner, the ex-Derby County player, had signed a pre-contract agreement with Bohemian FC, who are managed by Turner’s former mentor, Sean Connor. That Turner should want go to the Dublin giants is hardly surprising - Sean Connor has coveted the outstanding midfielder since he moved to the capital - but it is the style of Turner’s exit, much like that of Connor’s acrimonious departure last November, which irked the Sligo Rovers hierarchy and, obviously, first team manager Paul Cook. Cook, once he was informed of Turner’s intentions, dropped the midfielder (it is understood that he won’t play in the two Premier Division games that remain before July’s transfer window opens) and the manager was also without Keith Foy (suspension) and Rafaele Cretaro (injury). However, as Cook rightly said afterwards, the club’s future hinges on those players who want to play for Sligo Rovers. On Saturday, a range of heroes emerged, not least Seamus Coleman, Gavin Peers, Adam Hughes, Conor O’Grady and the goalscorers, Fahrudin Kuduzovic and Matthew Judge. Brian Cash, who was making his first start of the season, was a lively force, especially in the first-half. In what was to become a splendid FAI Cup tie - isn’t it always thus when Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers meet - Sligo Rovers initially fell behind after Tadhg Purcell, the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland ‘Player of the Month’ for May, exploited static defending to clinically plant a 10th minute header beyond the Sligo Rovers goal-keeper, Richard Brush But the visitors deservedly levelled via a slick 24th minute goal - the move was spruce and the finish, from playmakerturned-goalscorer Fahrudin Kuduzovic, was adroit. Five minutes later striker Matthew Judge, who almost scored with a stunning effort in the first minute, curled a lovely shot home from outside the penalty area after wriggling past a couple of half-hearted challenges - several Shamrock Rovers defenders fatally backed off (they obviously hadn’t seen how Judge had eviscerated Cork City a month ago). A chess-like link up between Adam Hughes and Brian Cash was smothered in the Shamrock Rovers penalty area before a 33rd minute thunderbolt from Seamus Coleman, who cut inside after raiding powerfully along the right flank, drew an acrobatic save from Brian Murphy, the Shamrock Rovers custodian. In five frantic minutes before half-time, Pat Scully’s charges almost equalised - Ger Rowe’s meaty goalbound shot was blocked by Sean Kelly and Jamie MacKenzie nipped in to deny Dave Cassidy, who attempted to recycle the rebound. Sligo Rovers then nearly made it 3-1 from an audacious move. Conor O’Grady and Adam Hughes provided the platform and Hughes’ sweet back heel sent Fahrudin Kuduzovic scurrying into the Shamrock Rovers penalty area but his effort was gathered by an alert Brian Murphy. The second-half saw Shamrock Rovers continue to employ a five-man defence, although as this magnificent game evolved, the original centre-backs, Ian Ryan and Walsh, were replaced. Sligo Rovers created further chances. From a 62nd minute corner, Gavin Peers’ forceful header was smuggled off the line Brian Murphy. In the two or minutes that followed, all Hell broke loose. Andy Myler’s well-executed equaliser - the game’s fourth goal - was made irrelevant when Fahrudin Kuduzovic exploited a defensive mix-up to restore Sligo Rovers’ advantage. When play eventually resumed following the delay due to Murphy’s unfortunate injury, Shamrock Rovers showed a greater appetite but their application lacked an end product. Paul Cook introduced substitutes Jason McCartney and Sean Flannery - Brian Cash and Matthew Judge were replaced - and Zoltan Vasas was later brought on for a tiring Gavin Peers. Sligo Rovers could - and should - have made it 4-2. Fahrudin Kuduzovic cracked a rasping right-footed shot off the crossbar after nimble footwork, full-back Sean Kelly’s rocket was tipped over by Shamrock Rovers’ replacement goalkeeper, the beefy Steve O’Brien, and winger Stephen Manson, who looked more comfortable when switched to the right, dragged a low shot just wide of the far post after being released by Sean Flannery’s angled pass. If their last-16 tie is half as exhilarating as Saturday’s fixture, Sligo Rovers fans can start bracing themselves for another stomach churning roller-coaster ride. The Bit O’Red faithful wouldn’t have it any other way. Player of the Match: Fahrudin Kuduzovic Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Seamus Coleman, Sean Kelly, Gavin Peers (Zoltan Vasas 103), Jamie MacKenzie, Conor O’Grady, Brian Cash (Jason McCartney 84), Adam Hughes (captain), Matthew Judge (Sean Flannery 84), Fahrudin Kuduzovic, Stephen Manson Subs not used: Tomislav Arcaba, Gino O’Boyle, Gary Curran, Levi Tierney Goal Attempts/Attempts on target: 11/10 Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy (Steve O’Brien), Ger O’Brien, Derek Pender, Ian Ryan, Glen Walsh (Dave O’Connor 58), Tommy Barrett (Mark Langtry 42), Dean Lawrence, Ger Rowe, Tadhg Purcell, Andy Myler, Dave Cassidy Subs not used: Keith Lyons, Kieran Kilduff Goal Attempts/Attempts on target: 7/6 Referee: Hugo Whoriskey |
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