| Rovers exit at first hurdle |
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| Saturday, 07 June 2008 | |
 A ten man Sligo Rovers exited the Ford FAI Cup tonight at Tolka Park going down two one against Shamrock Rovers. report courtesy www.rte.ie Shamrock Rovers cruised into the fourth round of the FAI Ford Cup with a 2-1 win over Sligo Rovers at a sun-drenched Tolka Park. Their task was made easier by that one-man advantage with Chris Butler being dismissed for a second yellow just 22 minutes into the game. Shamrock Rovers took the lead on 51 minutes through Padraig Amond before Aidan Price netted number two on the hour. Anthony Murphy got Sligo back into it on 67 with a neat finish past Barry Ryan but they couldn't find an equaliser. The game was evenly contested from the start with neither side having the upper hand. The Hoops had a slight advantage in that Sligo had the low hanging sun in their faces for the first half as they played into the Drumcondra end. This made things difficult for Sligo goalkeeper Patrick Jennings who spilled a free kick on four minutes but saw his defence clear up. There plenty of goalmouth incidents and tough tackles but the game took a twist on 22 minutes when Butler was sent-off. The home side had a perfect opportunity to open the scoring when awarded a free-kick just right of centre on 38 minutes but Alan Murphy blasted his shot high and wide into the Ballybough end stand. Faz Kudozovic then went close for Sligo on 44 but struck his powerful shot wide of Barry Murphy's post. The second half started in blistering fashion and the Hoops were awarded a free kick on 51 when Sean O'Connor was taken down by Danny Ventre. Amond met the ball at the far post and knocked if past Jennings into the back of the net. Sligo could have gotten back into it on 58 when Seamus Coleman met a short corner but shot over the bar when he had better options in the area but Rovers pushed forward again and Price added number two on the hour mark with a fine close range header. Sligo reorganised with boss Paul Cook making a double substitution on 62 minutes. That did the trick and Murphy then got one back for visitors on 67 minutes with a neat finish past Barry Murphy but they couldn't find the net again. Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, O'Brien, Treacy, Price, Ferguson, Danny O'Connor, McGill (Baker 59), Maguire (Purcell 79), Amond, Alan Murphy, Sean O'Connor (Stapleton 72). Sligo Rovers: Jennings, Coleman, Butler, Peers, Almeida (McKenzie 72), O'Grady, Cash (Judge 62), Ventre, Doherty (Cretaro 62), Kudozovic, Anto Murphy. Referee: A Buttimer. FAI Ford Man of the Match: Aidan Price (Shamrock Rovers). |
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