Sligo Rovers 1 Monaghan United 0:MATTHEW Blinkhorn was the toast of Sligo Rovers on Saturday night after his goal in the first half brought the trophy to the Showgrounds for only the second time in the club's 82-year history.
The former Morecambe striker scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute after Alan Keane’s run along the touchline set Blinkhorn up for a low strike into the bottom left-hand corner of Gabriel Sava’s net.
Sligo’s only other success in the competition came in 1997/98, when it was known as the League Cup, with victory on that occasion over Shelbourne.
Saturday night’s win was celebrated by hundreds of Reds supporters who poured onto the pitch after the final whistle.
Sligo boss Paul Cooke was “delighted with the win. All the hard work you do during the season goes into a night like tonight.”
Cooke admitted he was worried about the outcome during the game and felt, “we might have needed a second goal”.
Monaghan United Manager Mick Cooke said his team “acquitted ourselves very well. It was great to get to our first cup final for a club only 25 years in existence.”
SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Keane, Davoren, Peers, Ryan, Russell (McCabe, 78 mins)), Blinkhorn, Doyle, Ndo, Boco, Lauchlan.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Sava; Collins, Grimes, McMahon, Gartland, Tierney (Lynch, 84 mins), Byrne, Bermingham, Hughes (Hanaphy, 77 mins), Clancy, Brennan (O'Connor, 68 mins).
Referee: D Hanney(Dublin).
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