HOLDERS Sligo Rovers needed a stoppage time winner as they came from behind to beat nine-man Shelbourne at Tolka Park and make the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup.

 

Trailing to David Cassidy's first half lead, Sligo hit back late on with Danny Ventre levelling from Joseph Ndo’s 79th minute corner.

The real drama then arrived in stoppage time when Shels had Kevin Dawson sent off for a second booking. Richie Ryan curled home the resultant free-kick.

Shels were infuriated further when they then had fellow substitute Chris Mulhall sent off for a foul on Ventre.

With eight changes in their side with Friday’s top of the table clash at Monaghan in mind, Shels started brightly, forcing three early corner.

A near-full strength Sligo soon came into it with Matt Blinkhorn wasting a chance on 17 minutes, controlling and turning well only to shoot feebly at Paul Skinner in the home goal.

But Shels were well up for it and stunned the holders to take the lead on 39 minutes.

Karl Bermingham did well to keep the ball in play. Cassidy and John Sullivan linked to get the ball to the opposite flank for Brendan McGill.

Cassidy’s initial shot from McGill cross was parried by Brendan Clarke, but the Shels skipper headed home the rebound.

A brave block by Colm James on Blinkhorn prevented an equaliser minutes later.

Sligo upped their tempo on the resumption with Blinkhorn again turning well to blast over the top from Ndo’s pass.

Six minutes in a gilt-edged chance to equalise was wasted. Aaron Greene, being watched by Ireland under-21 boss Noel King, whipped over a sublime low cross from the left. It picked out Eoin Doyle but the topscorer totally miscued his effort from dead in front of goal to put it well wide.

But with first team reinforcements Ryan, Alan Keane and Raffaele Cretaro on, Sligo levelled on 79 minutes before the late drama saw them through.

SHELBOURNE: Skinner; Matthews (D. McGill, 86 mins.), Ryan, Boyle, Byrne; B. McGill, James, Cassidy, Sullivan (Dawson, 66 mins.), Clancy; Bermingham (Mulhall, 72 mins.).

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Ventre, Peers, Foran, Greene; Horgan (Keane, 62 mins.), Russell, Ndo, Kirby (Cretaro, 78, mins.); Blinkhorn (Ryan, 62 mins.), Doyle.

REFEREE: Neil Doyle (Dublin).