Dundalk 3
Sligo 0
DUNDALK DETHRONED FAI Cup holders Sligo Rovers with another ruthless performance as goals from David McMillan, Daryl Horgan and Brian Gartland put their name in the hat for the next round.
The sides met twice in the month of May with Sligo getting the better of Dundalk thanks to Paul O’Conor’s Setanta Cup-winning strike while Dundalk exacted small revenge for that loss in the league two weeks later with a clinical 3-0 victory and they repeated that result with another classy showing on home turf.
It took 13 minutes before the first chance of this match to present itself with Eric Odhiambo and Aaron Greene combining with a neat give and go, the former’s shot drifting wide of Peter Cherrie’s far post.
From there, Dundalk assumed control of the contest with Darren Meenan and Daryl Horgan, both excellent in their 5-2 win over UCD four days previously, causing continuous problems for the Bit o’Red back four.
Ex-Sligo man Meenan found McMillan on the right of the penalty box but his low shot was saved well by the feet of Rogers before the same duo combined again on 20 minutes but this time an off balance McMillan shot well over.
The inswinging and outswinging corners of Meenan have posed problems for defences throughout the season and did so again with Dane Massey twice getting on the end of deliveries.
Rogers made an unorthodox stop with his thigh from the first before the left-back headed wide when he popped up unmarked at the back post.
On 31 minutes, the hosts got the goal they deserved. A diagonal ball from Brian Gartland found Richie Towell who flicked inside first time for McMillan.
He tore between the centre halves, one of whom is his older brother Evan, and unleashed a clean and clinical volley into the back of the net for his 10th goal in just 10 starts in all competitions this season and give his side a precious half-time lead.
With Sligo languishing so far off the summit in the league, it felt that retaining their FAI Cup would be their last real shot at some silverware this season, but their grip on the trophy loosened considerably two minutes into the second half.
Towell’s pass found McMillan inside the area and he held the ball up until help from Horgan arrived behind him. The winger was quickly picked out by his teammate and he sent his strike swiftly into the far corner.
20 minutes into the second half, Sligo relinquished their title. The outstanding McMillan hared in from the left on to a Massey pass and fired at goal where Rogers made the stop, but centre back Gartland was there to slam home his second goal of the week as his side safely sealed their spot in the next round, exorcising some of last season’s semi-final demons.
DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, Richie Towell (Marc Griffin, 87), Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (John Mountney, 65), Daryl Horgan (Ruaidhri Higgins, 82), David McMillan.
Substitutes: John Mountney, Ruaidhri Higgins, Marc Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Ciaran O’Connor, Gabriel Sava (GK).
SLIGO ROVERS: Gary Rogers, Kalen Spillane, Danny Ledwith, Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor, Joseph Ndo (Sean Maguire, 82), John Russell, Paul O’Conor, Aaron Greene, Eric Odhiambo (Raffaele Cretaro, 58), Danny North.
Substitutes: Sean Maguire, Raffaele Cretaro, Regan Donelon, Jordan Loftus, Richard Brush (GK).
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Other results:
Belgrove 0-1 Finn Harps