Sligo Rovers 6 – 0 Letterkenny Rovers| EA Sports Cup 2nd Round
Five second half goals and one before the break saw a near full strength Sligo Rovers ease past Letterkenny Rovers to make it to the third round of the EA Sports Cup.
Paul Cook made just three changes from the side that lost to Bohemians in the league on Saturday night last, with Ciaran Kelly between the sticks, Irafhlaith Davoren returning from injury and Padraig Amond leading the line. It was a night for building confidence in a team that’s failed to capitalise on their overall strengths so far this season.
Anything other than a convincing victory over the non-league visitors would have seen serious questions asked about the Bit O’Red’s season to date, which sees them sitting third from bottom in the league with only 2 wins from 12.
The closest either team came to scoring was on 17 minutes. Matthew Blinkhorn fired the ball into the chest the Letterkenny net-minder Coalan McGettigan in quick succession but the out rushing ‘keeper stayed on his feet to quash the danger.
Padraig Amond exhibited his eye for goal, finding the net with an exquisite finish, pirouetting to dispatch the ball over the shoulder of the stranded McGettigan only for the referee’s assistant to flag for offside.
But the Carlow mans time did come. Three minutes before the break Joseph Ndo and Gary McCabe combined in midfield, feeding Amond who turned the defender and put Rovers one up going in for the break.
Three minutes into the second half and Matthew Blinkhorn doubled Rovers tally at the Railyway End. Eoin Doyle swung in a cross from under the Jinks Avenue Stand to find Blinkhorn. Showing strength to hold off two defenders, he astutely finished to the right of the keeper.
Just after the hour mark any thoughts of a shock result were put to bed when Gary McCabe found Blinkhorn again to loop his shot over the head of the stranded McGettigan.
On 65 minutes the highly rated former Galway United midfielder, John Russell was brought off the bench for his debut in a Rovers shirt replacing Joey Ndo. An ankle injury the reason for Russell’s lack of game time so far this season.
With just over a quarter of an hour remaining Russell gave the home crowd a glimpse of his potential. The Galway man spotted the space behind a pressing Letterkenny defence and played a pass for the Rovers attack to chase. Amond broke away, crossing from the by line to find Blinkhorn at the far post. His half volley deflected off Shane Bradley and past the ‘keeper to make it four nil.
Substitute Mark Doninger also got in on the act, scoring his second in a Rovers jersey and making it five on the night for the home side. John Russell was again involved in the build-up.
And on 88 minutes it had come full circle with the man who opened the scoring finishing it all off. Once again Matthew Blinkhorn was involved, along with Doninger who found Amond to make it six.
An ardent result could be just what Paul Cook’s side need ahead of a big home game on Saturday against second from bottom side Drogheda.
John Russell will prove an addition to the squad; however, he is well off match fitness and is unlikely to appear from the start against Alan Mathew’s side.
Sligo Rovers: C Kelly, I Davoren, G Peers, D Ventre, A Keane, G McCabe, R Ryan, J Ndo, E Doyle, M Blinkhorn, P Amond. SUBS: R Brush, J McCartney (for Davoren 78”), J Russell (for Ndo 65”), M Doninger (for Ryan 77”), J Dillon.
Letterkenny Rvs: C McGettigan, C McGonigle, C Greene, M McAteer, S Bradley; M Friel, J Doherty, D McElwaine, P McNulty, K Hegarty, L Toland. Subs: T Shields (for Friel 78”), G Grant, A Gorman (for Hegarty 71”), Jamie Doherty (for Toland 67”), J Mailey.
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