Peers books Sligo's final spot

FAI Cup and LOI review: Bohemians’ hopes of a double were dashed by Sligo Rovers when Gavin Peers rose highest to head home …

FAI Cup and LOI review:Bohemians' hopes of a double were dashed by Sligo Rovers when Gavin Peers rose highest to head home a 75th minute corner at Dalymount Park.

Sligo’s first win at the Dublin venue for four years was thoroughly deserved and booked their place in the FAI Cup final for the second year in a row.

The homeside were fortunate to be level at the break after Brian Murphy’s double save brilliantly denied Gary McCabe and then Matthew Blinkhorn.

Both Rafael Cretaro and Jason Byrne were both replaced by Pat Fenlon, with Paddy Madden and Mark Quigley respectively, but still Sligo looked the more likely to find the net.

READ MORE

The decisive goal came when Richie Ryan delivered a beautiful corner from the right-handside and Peers launched himself at it to direct into the bottom corner.

Sligo will meet either Shamrock Rovers or St Patrick's Athletic in the final, after the two meet on Sunday.

In the Premier Division, a late Stephen Walsh goal wasn't enough to prevent Galway Unitedslipping into the play-offs and Sporting Fingalmoving to within a point of third-placed Sligo.

A comprehensive 3-1 win at Morton Stadium began in the third minute when Alan Kirby finished Ronan Finn’s cross neatly from 10 yards out.

The lead was doubled eight minutes later when Colion Hawkins powered home a header from Conan Byrne’s corner.

That was good enough for a two-goal cushion at the break and the game was wrapped up when Lorcan Fitzgerald’s cross found its way into the net off the post.

Walsh’s 25-yard strike was the goal of the night but too little too late.

That result meant UCD are safe for another season, despite losing 2-0 to Dundalk at the Belfield Bowl.

Fahrudin Kudozovic finished Stephen Maher’s cross after half an hour to give the visitors the lead but the students were handed a numerical advantage when Gary Breen was dismissed for an elbow on Greg Bolger on the stroke of halftime.

However, Bolger missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise when his 73rd minute penalty was tipped over by Peter Cherrie and Dundalk sealed the win when Johnny Breen pounced on a defensive lapse to beat Billy Brennan in the UCD goal with five minutes remaining.