SLIGO ROVERS 1 – 3 MONAGHAN UNITED

FAI/FORD CUP – 2ND ROUND
SLIGO ROVERS 1 – 3 MONAGHAN UNITED
Monaghan United’s manager Roddy Collins like his Sligo counterpart made four changes from last outing, the main absentee being their playmaker Jordan Keegan out injured. In goals Michael Schlingermann got the nod ahead of Chris Bennion a decision that didn’t look good when he dropped the ball into the net with scarcely a minute elapsed, he was fortunate as the goal was ruled off-side and it would be his only error of the evening in which he brought off a number of excellent saves.
Going into the game Sligo Rovers- the present Cup holders were hoping to put together a tat-trick of consecutive titles in the competition and from the start they tore into United and by the time they scored from the penalty spot in the 8th minute they could have been three up. The goal came from the penalty spot, Mark Quigley converted after Stephen Maher tripped Ross Gaynor in the area. Sligo continued to dominate possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Gradually United took control at the back and at last started to get forward, in 18th minute they forced the first corner of the game and put Sligo under a good piece of pressure before Anthony Griffiths put the ball behind. In 25th minute David Cawley should have put Sligo two up after a fine pass from Mark Quigley put him through but Schlingermaan advanced and made a brilliant save. It seemed to spur on United who forced the second corner of the game, Sligo cleared down the field but United advanced up the right wing at pace, the ball was turned into the center to Stephen Maher he crossed over to the corner of the area finding Anthony Grifiths from where he sent in a curling drive past the defenders and keeper and just inside the far post. Willo Mc Donagh took a free in 32nd minute which wasn’t far off target. Both defenses were on top for the remainder of the half and surprisingly Sligo who dominated the opening quarter had only one attempt on goal in the second quarter and that not coming until 42nd minute.
Bobby Ryan replaced Conor Murphy at the start of the second half. As in the opening half Sligo was fast out of the traps. Quigley put Keane through his attempt was turned behind for a corner from which Mc Guinness headed just past the target. Sligo were trying to get their ace marksman- Danny North on the ball but he was well shepherded by the defense especially Alan Byrne. In 57 minute United brought on Jason Marks for Shane Dunne. Sligo replaced their youthful Jake Dykes with Pascal Millien and if the Haitian introduction excited the large home crowd it would Marks who would silence them in 72nd minute. Following a poor clearance from the keeper Gary Rogers the ball came to Marks on the wing, with the keeper off his line Marks squeezed the ball past him for the lead for United. Sligo upped the pace but Monaghan responded and rather than sitting back and protecting the lead they went in search of a third. Sligo brought on one of their big guns in Raffaele Cretaro. A Sligo attack with Millien on the ball came to an abrupt stop when the referee whistled up play, his attention was brought to an off the ball incident and Sligo found themselves down to 10 men when Alan Keane received a straight red in 77th minute. There was no way back into the game for Sligo. A tactical change for United earlier had seen Michael Isichei replace Paul Whelan. Isichei kept attacking Sligo down the right and it was from one of his runs that brought United the all important third goal, his ball into the area should have been dealt comfortably by Danny Ventry but he conceded possession to Willo Mc. Donagh before taking him down for a penalty which Keith Quinn converted despite the keeper guessing right and getting close. In the remaining six minutes Sligo only succeeded in creating one dangerous moment in Cretaro was played in but a combination of Conor Mc. Mahon and Alan Byrne snuffed out the danger.
This was a shock result but once United got over a rocky opening fifteen minutes they well deserved the result. Did Sligo the Premier League leaders underestimate the bottom of the table side Monaghan United? Once again United’s back four of Mc Mahon, Byrne, Maher and Whelan were excellent in holding the rightly highly rated Sligo scoreless from play. Willo Mc. Donagh and Keith Quinn put a terrific performance in in the middle; Darragh Reynor again had a steady performance as did Conor Murphy and Shane Dunne. Apart from scoring his goal Anthony Griffiths had his best performance yet in the United colors. An unusual statistic from this game, it was the first time this season no injuries were picked up by any of the United players so the three second half substitutions were each tactical. The introduction of Bobby Ryan at half time steadied the ship, Jason Marks scored the second goal and Michael Isichei created the third.
Alan Byrne was voted man of the match by the media.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers, Jake Dykes(Pascal Milien 63), Lee Lynch (Raffaele Cretaro), David Cawley, Danny Ventre, Ross Gaynor, Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Marty Owens, John Dillon, Pascal Millien, Rafael Cretaro, Mark McGoldrick, Liam Martin
Monaghan United: Michael Schlingermann, Paul Whelan Michael Isichei 69), Stephen Maher, Conor McMahon, Alan Byrne, Conor Murphy (Bobby Ryan 46), Keith Quinn, Willo McDonagh, Shane Dunne (Jason Marks 57), Tony Griffiths, Darragh Reynor
Subs not used: Chris Bennion, Roddy Collins, Bobby Ryan, Jason Marks, Michael Isichei
Referee: Paul McLoughlin