Ciaran Kelly saved all four Shamrock Rovers spot-kicks in the penalty shoot-out of the 2010 FAI Ford Cup final at the Aviva Stadium to clinch the trophy for Sligo Rovers.

 

Before the biggest attendance at a cup final in 40 years, 36,101, the two Rovers cancelled each other out over 120 minutes leaving the finale to be decided by spot kicks for the second time in three years.

 

Eoin Doyle converted the first Sligo penalty in the shoot-out but the next five were all missed. Gary McCabe made it 2-0 with Sligo's fourth only for Paddy Kavanagh to have his attempt saved by Kelly, sparking wild celebrations amongst the north-west club's faithful.

 

Michael O'Neill's men finished the contest with ten men, through the dismissal of Stephen Bradley ten minutes from the finish of extra time for a second yellow card, while Sligo's Joseph Ndo was named man of the match.

 

The Hoops, chasing a league and cup double for the first time since 1987, received a boost before kick off with the news of top scorer Gary Twigg passing a fitness test on a hamstring injury but their attacking threat was blunted by the sterling defending and goalkeeping of their opponents.

 

Twice in the space of five minutes, Twigg chose to shoot when given sight of goal despite team-mates appearing better placed to convert.

 

An unmarked Thomas Stewart looked a tad miffed not to be fed inside the box on eight before Billy Dennehy was ignored shortly afterwards. Both attempts from Twigg strayed off target.

 

Romauld Boco was inches from putting the EA Sports Cup champions ahead on 17 minutes but for a fingertip save by Alan Mannus which diverted his header from Ndo's corner onto the crossbar.

 

 

Dennehy whisked a free-kick over the crossbar as the interval approach but it was at the opposite end that the lead could have been grabbed on 43 minutes when Gavin Peers connected with Ndo's corner and sent it fractionally wide.

 

Sligo's attacking pair of McCabe and Doyle tormented the Dubliners' defence throughout with their pace and trickery. Both forwards squandered decent chances to nick it in the final stages

 

Twigg, too, could have snuck the winner three minutes from time. A corner found the Scot at the far post and his header forced Kelly to dive across goal and pushed the effort around the post.

 

Two periods of extra-time were required in which fatigue was a factor amongst the players. Neither side fashioned a chance of note, setting the scene for a spot-kick showdown at the Lansdowne Road end.

 

The Bit O'Red, having endured the torture of losing the final to a pair of late goals against Sporting Fingal a year ago, finally got their hands on the trophy - much to the satisfaction of boss, Paul Cook.

 

"This is a great day for Sligo Rovers football club. It will give our club such a lift, especially the kids in the town. The first few home games of next season should be brilliant," he said.

 

"I always felt we'd win the cup today - I didn't have that feeling at all last year.

 

"It's not nice losing on penalties. I think a lot of those missed today were out of physical exhaustion. I couldn't even watch the shoot-out - I was outside (the stadium) at the back of the car park talking nonsense to our physiotherapist!"

 

 

Sligo Rovers: Kelly; Keane, Peers, Lauchlan, Davoran; Boco, Ndo, Ventre (O'Grady 118), McCabe; Russell; Doyle.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Rice, Sives, Flynn, Stevens; Dennehy, Bradley, Turner, Chambers (Baker 69 [Price 113]), Stewart (Kavanagh 102); Twigg.

Referee: Tomás Connolly.