Malahide finally worn down

Malahide Utd - 0 Sligo Rovers - 2: Sligo Rovers ended brave Malahide United's FAI Carlsberg Cup dream last night, but the home side will take some comfort from the fact they held the First Division side until extra-time.

Having mixed it with their opponents for 90 minutes, Malahide's hopes were dashed when striker Paul McTiernan scored goals in both periods of extra-time.

In the 93rd minute he ran on to a scuffed clearance by goalkeeper Colin Blanche and tucked the ball in to an empty net.

Then, in the 108th minute, he jinked past two defenders to beat Blanche from close range.

Manager Bobby Browne will be frustrated as his Malahide side started brightly. Striker Wayne Griffin forced John O'Hara into a seventh-minute save, and soon after captain Kevin Craven had O'Hara scrambling again to keep out an unorthodox shot.

But Sligo settled, and midfielder Ciarán Foley took control of the game, dictating both pace and direction. Indeed, Foley had Sligo's best chance of the first half, drilling a long-range effort just wide after some chaotic Malahide defending.

Sligo applied early pressure in the second half and they should have taken the lead after 55 minutes but McTiernan could not get a touch on Fahrudin Kudozovic's cross at the back post.

MALAHIDE were still digging in, though, and Griffin went agonisingly close in the 73rd minute but his stunning, 35-yard volley was tipped onto the crossbar. But that was it for the Leinster Senior League side as Sligo's concentration and fitness eventually told.

MALAHIDE UNITED: Blanche; McGovern, Doyle, Gaines, Reddy; Corcoran, Craven, Shehabbadin, Bennett; Griffin, Skelly. Subs: Trainor for McGovern (16), Prenderville for Corcoran (83), Conway for Skelly (111). Booked: Gaines (50), Shehabbadin (60)

SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara; Cretara, Feeney, Gorman, Kusten; Kudozovic, Foley, Curran, McCartney; Flannery, McTiernan. Subs: Alvarez for Flannery (64), Flynn for Gorman (75). Booked: Foley (8).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).