HOLDERS Sligo Rovers and Monaghan United face an FAI Ford Cup replay on Tuesday after a Showgrounds draw that featured no goals but two sendings-off.

Rovers keeper Brendan Clarke was first to go for a last-man tackle on Michael Isichei after the hour-mark.

And Monaghan midfielder Keith Quinn also made an early exit after an off the ball incident 15 minutes later.

Rovers hit the woodwork three times on the night – twice in the closing minutes – but the visitors worked hard to hold out and force a second meeting.

Clarke’s game was prematurely ended 15 minutes into the second half, when he raced out of his goal and collided with Monaghan striker Isichei.

Quinn then followed Clarke to the showers - referee Paul Tuite consulting an assistant before reaching for red.

Rovers threw on Matthew Blinkhorn and John Dillon looking for a winner, and Dillon combined with Cretaro, whose cross was headed off the foot of the post by Doyle.

Rovers twice went close to snatching a winner in the five minutes of injury-time, but were twice denied by the crossbar.

Firstly Ndo saw a free-kick bounce off the top of the bar, and then Blinkhorn smashed a close-range volley off the woodwork.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Cretaro, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren, Russell(Kelly 63), Ryan (Dillon 76), Ventre, Ndo, Greene (Blinkhorn 68), Doyle.

MONAGHAN UNITED: Sava, A Collins, Byrne, Grimes, Reilly, R Brennan, Foley, Quinn, S Brennan (Byrne 90+4), Marks, Isichei.

REFEREE: P Tuite.