Finn Harps 0 Sligo Rovers 1:PREMIER DIVISION Sligo Rovers advanced to the quarter-finals by overcoming Finn Harps in a surprisingly low-key north-west derby at Finn Park.
Sligo were on top from the start with Harps’ goalkeeper Gavin Cullen forced into making a decent first-minute save and Richard Ryan then hit the post.
Rovers took the lead on 12 minutes when Matthew Blinkhorn was adjudged to have been fouled by Packie Mailey inside the box and Alan Keane duly slotted in the resulting penalty.
But although they dominated the early stages, Sligo failed to build on their early advantage and the game limped towards the interval with little to excite either set of fans.
Kevin McHugh went closest for Harps with a speculative 40-yard effort that landed on the roof of the Sligo net on 62 minutes.
Harps produced a series of corners but with no end product before Sligo missed a great chance to seal things when Eoin Doyle burst through on goal only to be denied by the advancing Cullen.
This was the first time that the two north-west rivals had ever met in the FAI Cup.
FINN HARPS: Cullen; Doherty, Mailey, Crossan, Whoriskey (Breen, 76 mins; Walsh 90 mins); McMenamin, Forker, Shields, Bonner; Brolly, McHugh.
SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Keane, Peers, Lauchlan, Davoren; Ryan; Dillon (Doyle 61 mins), Russell, Boco, McCabe (Ventre 61 mins); Blinkhorn (Amond 76 mins).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)
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