Rovers through to Semi-Final after dramatic victory

 Sligo Rovers are through to the Semi-Final of the EA Sports Cup after Richie Ryan scored a 94th minute free-kick to seal the win.

Photo from sligorovers.com

The hosts started the brighter team and won the first corner of the game, Ian Ryan attacked it but the Rovers defence cleared well. Just minutes later they had another corner, but Derek Foran done well to clear it.

Matthew Blinkhorn went close for Rovers when Joseph Ndo picked him out with a terrific long range pass, but the striker shot straight at the keeper.

Rovers next chance came to top scorer Eoin Doyle when winger Daryl Horgan aimed his cross for the striker, but Doyle failed to make any decent contact with it.

Doyle could have put Rovers ahead with 7 minutes to go, but his shot went high and wide. He was made pay for this just two minutes later when David Cassidy initially seen his first shot saved well by Brendan Clarke, but made no mistake 2nd time around.

Rovers almost scored immeditely after the goal when Blinkhorn got on the end of an Ndo corner, but Colm James threw himself in frontof the shot to keep Shels lead in tact going into the break.

Rovers looked much better coming out for the 2nd half and had the first chance after the interval when Ndo played Blinkhorn in again. He turned Andy Boyle but the lively striker saw his strike go just over the bar.

Aaron Greene delievered  a great ball into the box for 'Gingerito', but he completely mistimed his shot and saw his effort go well wide of the goal.

Cassidy almost scored his second when he got his head onto a Gareth Mathews cross, but he failed to hit the target to give Shels a two goal cushion. Ian Ryan was next to try his luck from a corner when he got his head on the incoming ball, but Clarke was able to gather the ball with ease.

Sligo Rovers finally got an equalizer on the 78th minute when Ndo, whi had been causing the Shels defence problems all night, sent a ball into the box which was met by Danny Ventre to score his first of the season.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Finn

Rovers almost made it 2-1 just minutes later when Cretaro aimed a header towards John Russell, but the Shelbourne keeper done excellently to claim the ball.

Aaron Greene was looking very lively, as he set up opportunities for both Russell and Doyle, but both players failed to convert as extra time loomed in Tolka Park.

In the 4th minute of injury time, Rovers were handed the chance to score with the final kick off the game before possibly heading to extra time. Kevin Dawson was sent off for hauling Foran to the ground on the edge of the box. Richie Ryan stepped up to take it, and cooly placed the ball into the top corner, well beyond Paul Skinner's reach.

The last action of the game saw Shelbourne reduced to 9 men when a frustrated Chris Mulhall tackled Danny Ventre immedietely after the restart. The Final whistle was then blown as The Bit O'Red dramatically hold onto their EA Sports Cup for another while. Next up for the team is a trip to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday for a League match against Bray Wanderers.

Shelbourne: Skinner, Mathews (D. McGill, 86 mins), Ryan, Boyle, S. Byrne, B. McGill, James, Clancy, Sullivan, Cassidy, Bermingham (Mulhall, 72mins)

Subs not used: Delaney, Fitzgerald, C. Byrne, Hughes

Sligo Rovers: Clarke, Ventre, Foran, Peers, Greene, Horgan (Keane, 62 mins), Kirby (Cretaro, 78 mins), Ndo, Russell, Doyle, Blinkhorn (Ryan, 62 mins)
Subs not used: Kelly, McGuinness, Dillon, McGoldrick