Recent record against non-league teams
From the Sligo Champion:
SATURDAY night’s game against Malahide United at the Showgrounds will be Sligo Rovers fourth F.A.I. Cup tie against non-league opposition in the past five years.
The sequence-interrupted by last July’s visit to Waterford United-began in December, 2001, when Rovers were drawn at home to Leeds A.F.C. of Cork.
A young Rovers side recorded a merited 2-0 victory over the Munster Senior League outfit, hitting a goal in each half to ensure their progress to the next round.
The deadlock against eager, but limited, opponents came in the 12th minute. Lee Marshall’s corner from the left touched on by Jim Sheridan for Steve Feeney to time his run to perfection and head firmly to the net.
Some excellent goalkeeping from Malcolm Stokes kept Rovers out, until their long-threatening second goal arrived in the 57th minute.
A flick on by Marshall gave Rafael Cretaro a clear sight of goal and he sidestepped his mark to slot the ball low to the net as Stokes advanced.
The Rovers team on duty was: Healy, Rossiter, Lally, Feeney, Sheridan, Gaffney, Cretaro, Dolan, Flannery, Marshall, Moran. Subs-O’Donoghue for Gaffney (70 mins), Glynn for Marshall (74 mins), Burke for Feeney (87 mins).
In 2002, Rovers travelled to the Carlisle Grounds, the home of Bray Wanderers, to the Wicklow based Leinster Senior League side, Greystones F.C. in the Second Round.
A goal from stand-in striker, Rafael Cretaro, three minutes from half-time was enough to give Rovers a deserved, if far from convincing, victory, in what was a poor contest.
Don O’Riordan’s side found it difficult to break down a Greystones outfit who placed a heavy emphasis on containment.
Cretaro’s winning strike came when an error by Greystones defender Donal Byrne was punished, David O’Dowd intercepting and working the ball across for Cretaro to round the ‘keeper and slot home.
Rovers lined out as follows: Kelly, Rossiter, Gallen, Hutchison, Feeney, Brady, Gavin, Dolan, O’Dowd, Cretaro, Gorman. Subs-O’Donoghue for Gallen (55 mins),McLoughlin for Gavin (75 mins), Sheridan for Feeney (78 mins).
Moyle Park College were Rovers opponents in 2003, the game against the Leinster Senior League side played at Baldonnel.
The Clondalkin based club never seriously threatened Sligo and a Paul McTiernan strike and an ‘own goal’ by Moyle captain, Robbie Gallagher, settled the issue.
Rovers had gone into the game with only one win in nine outings. It took them 32 minutes to break down Moyle’s defensive resistance, McTiernan shooting past College ‘keeper, Stephen Geraghty, after Michael McNamara headed down an Ollie Keogh free-kick.
Rovers second came when the unfortunate Gallagher turned the ball beyond his own ‘keeper from Ramuel Miller’s speculative shot from the left.
The team was: Cobey, Jinks, Miller, McNamara, Sheridan, Keogh, Carr, Cretaro, McLoughlin, McTiernan, O’Dowd. Subs-Feeney for McTiernan (68 mins), Watson for McLoughlin (74 mins).
There have of course been other F.A.I. Cup ties for Rovers against non-league opposition in the more recent past, including a 4-2 win over Crofton Celtic in 1987; a 1-0 win over Boyne Rovers in a replay after a 0-0 draw in 1990; a 2-1 victory away against Edenmore in 1991 and a 1-0 defeat of Bluebell in 1993.
And, in what manager, Sean Connor, would hope would be a good omen, Rovers beat Glenmore Celtic 2-1 in a replay after a 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds on their way to their their 1994 Final triumph over Derry City , as Willie McStay’s side completed a memorable treble of First Division Shield, First Division Championship and F.A.I. Cup.
