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Sligo come out on top against Hoops

Saturday 16th June 2007, 9:48 pm

Fahrudin Kudozovic, Sligo Rovers.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Sligo Rovers won an incident packed match with Shamrock Rovers to reach the third round of the FAI Cup at Tolka Park tonight. The Bit O' Red eventually triumphed 3-2 although an injury to Shamrock Rovers' goalkeeper Barry Murphy overshadowed the game.

Tadhg Purcell had given Shamrock Rovers the perfect start when he headed in after only ten minutes.

Fahrudin Kudozovic levelled matters up on 23 minutes as Sligo took advantage of the Hoops patched together defence. Seamus Coleman and Matthew Judge combined to set up the goal with Judge's cross giving Kudozovic the simple task of tapping in from close range.

Judge found the net just before the half hour to give Sligo the lead. Judge fired past the dive of Murphy to make it 2-1 from just outside the home area.

Shamrock Rovers levelled matters again on 64 minutes after Ger Rowe played in Andy Myler for the veteran striker to fire past Richard Brush to make it 2-2.

However, the in-form Dublin side fell behind again less than two minutes later as Kudozovic was in the right place at the right time to slot home after Ger O'Brien and Murphy had collided when attempting to deal with a ball into the area.

A significant delay then followed as medical staff tended to Murphy and the treatment of a back injury.

Shamrock Rovers didn't find a way back and Sligo might have added to their three goals in the fifteen-plus minutes of injury time. Kudozovic struck the crossbar while Stephen Manson missed with a good opportunity.

Shamrock Rovers : Murphy (S O'Brien 78), Pender, G O'Brien, Ryan, Walsh (Duffy 59), Barrett (Langtry 42), Lawrence, Rowe, Cassidy, Myler, Purcell.
Sligo Rovers : Brush, Coleman, Kelly, Peers (Vasas 90+), McKenzie, O'Grady, Cash (Flannery 85), Hughes, Manson, Judge (McCarthy 85), Kudozovic.