SLIGO ROVERS DUNDALK
FOR Paul O’Conor, the Sligo Rovers midfielder, this Setanta Sports Cup final was all about retribution. After the gut-wrenching agony of losing three finals last year with Drogheda United, the 26-year-old Dubliner left the drenched trenches of Tallaght Stadium as the match-winner.
O’Connor, who scored the lead goal in the FAI Cup final last November, ghosted into the box to strike in the 13th minute of a good final, if not a great one, as Sligo claimed their sixth trophy since 2010 – and their first Setanta.
On a grim afternoon of stinging showers and sporadic lightning flashes – the floodlights were on full wattage long before kick-off – conditions could not have been more challenging for the players.
Initially, the surface was zippy, which suited the passing game favoured by both teams, but underfoot conditions became boggy approaching half-time, and the pitch was virtually unplayable for the final minutes.
By the break, Sligo were a goal up but had lost veteran schemer Joe Ndo with a calf injury just past the half hour.
With Alan Keane a late withdrawal, it left Sligo short of natural leaders but Greene was an ever-willing foil in the final third while Evan McMillan and Jeff Henderson were rallying figures in defence.
Roared on by raucous support in the 2,600 crowd, Dundalk were left to rue the sloppy defending which precipitated O’Conor’s goal.
It was sparked off by Andy Boyle’s under-hit pass which was intercepted by Greene and lead to a flurry of Sligo pressure.
First, there was a corner, which Dundalk failed to clear, and soon after a free on the right touchline which John Russell took quickly to Greene, who cut into the box at pace. With Dundalk stretched, the delivery came slightly behind O’Conor but he improvised superbly as he tucked the ball in at the near post via his right heel.
In Cup finals, the first goal is so often vital and Sligo could take encouragement from the fact they’d never lost this season when drawing first blood.
Briefly dazed, Dundalk cleared the senses and set about pursuing an equaliser. Twice, Hoban missed the target with headers, while Richie Towell’s 25-yarder tested Gary Rogers’ handling. As the rains persisted, and play opened up, Dundalk chiselled out chances for Towell, who scooped his effort over, and substitute Kurtis Byrne who shot across the face of goal.
If Sligo were less adventurous, Greene spied North with a speared cross which the striker headed over. As Dundalk’s persisted through a final ferocious flurry of hail, the thin red line held firm as evidenced by Rogers’ athleticism to thwart substitute David McMillan late on. Sligo RoveRS: Rogers; Conneely, E McMillan, Henderson, Gaynor; Cawley, Russell, Ndo (Ledwith 34), O’Conor, Greene; North. Scorer: O’Conor 13. DunDalk: Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey, Shields (Higgins 74); Meenan (D McMillan 80), Towell, Mountney (Byrne 67), Horgan; Hoban. Ref: A Hunter (IFA).