Derry City lost their grip on the Ford FAI Cup when a narrow quarter-final defeat by their “bogey” team, Sligo Rovers, means the Brandywell club are only playing for pride for the rest of the season.
Rory Patterson had a penalty claim turned down.
The home side dominated the first half and deservedly went in at the interval a goal up courtesy of a well taken Raffaele Cretaro goal on 14 minutes.
Derry upped their game in the second half but failed to create any clear-cut chances until the dying minutes when they had a penalty claimed turned down by referee Neil Doyle and were denied on two occasions by keeper Gary Rogers.
City boss Declan Devine made two changes to the side that lost out to Saint Patrick’s Athletic at the Brandywell 12 days earlier, Osbourne and Patrick Kavanagh taking their places in the starting line-up.
Sligo manager Ian Barraclough made four changes from last week’s league win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park – Danny North, Joseph Ndo, Raffaele Cretaro and Jeff Henderson all returning to the 11.
Sligo, looking to progress to their fifth cup semi-final in eight years, threatened as early as the second minute when Alan Keane’s deft touch took him past Osbourne at the edge of the Derry penalty area but Aaron Greene failed to react in the six yard box allowing Ryan McBride to clear the danger.
Both teams struggled to get a good passing game together during the early exchanges in less than ideal conditions as the rain and wind battered the Maugheraboy venue.
The dire weather conditions played a part in what would prove to be the winning goal when Ndo’s cross to the Derry front post was miss-controlled by Shane McEleney as he slipped on the wet surface allowing Cretaro, with his back to goal, show fantastic awareness to back-heel the ball through Ger Doherty’s legs and into the net.
Sligo goalkeeper Gary Rogers had to be alert on 36 minutes to palm away a Simon Madden cross which almost dipped behind the Meath man.
Iarfhlaith Davoren forced Doherty into a full stretch save on 44 minutes after Ndo’s free-kick was blocked into his path by Barry McNamee. Doherty was called upon once again on the stroke of half-time to push away Danny North’s low effort from the edge of the six yard box.
Sligo started the second half as they ended the first with North spurning a glorious opportunity in the 47th minute when, after being picked out by Cretaro, he failed to make significant contact with the ball and his effort dribbled wide of the target.
Derry eventually worked their way back into the game as they pressed for an equaliser. Madden’s 50th minute cross was misjudged by Alan Keane before Gavin Peers was forced to block away McNamee’s drive.
North failed to take advantage another guilt-edged chance on 58 minutes when Keane’s pin-point cross found him unmarked at the Derry front post. However, with the goal at his mercy, he was unable to move his feet in time to deal with Keane’s drilled cross. The ball then fell to Aaron Greene who blazed over from 20 yards.
Peers was unlucky not to claim his second goal in as many games on 63 minutes when he rose highest to get his head to a Greene corner, but the Dubliner could only send his effort behind Doherty’s crossbar .
As the game moved into the dying minutes, City”s Rory Patterson had a penalty claim dismissed by referee Doyle when he went down under a challenge from Keane but City’s protestations fell on deaf ears.
The cup holders then looked certain to secure a replay two minutes into injury time but substitute Michael Duffy couldn’t lift the ball over the diving Rogers who managed to deflect the ball away for a corner.
From the resulting set piece Duffy was again denied by Rogers who did well to reach a shot which looked destined for the bottom corner.
It is the fourth time Sligo have beaten the Brandywell club this season. Indeed, you would have to back to back just over six years to find when City emerged triumphal of the two – that was a 4-1 win in July, 2007.
Sligo went into the game hot favourites having defeated Declan Devine’s side on five of their last six meetings – scoring 16 goals and conceded only three.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Raffaele Cretaro (for Pascal Millien 75), Seamus Conneely (Danny Ventre 67), Joseph Ndo, David Cawley, Aaron Greene; Danny North (for Anthony Elding 82). Subs not used: Matthew Gledhill, Liam Martin, Lee Lynch.
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Simon Madden, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Eoghan Osbourne (for Ryan Curran 77); Patrick Kavanagh (Michael Duffy 38), Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry Molloy, Barry McNamee, David McDaid (for Michael Rafter 74); Rory Patterson. Subs not used: Eugene Ferry, Mark Griffin, Sean Houston, Raymond Foy.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
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