Sligo Rovers 3 Pike Rovers 2:SLIGO Rovers were given a major scare before emerging narrow winners over impressive FAI Junior Cup holders Pike Rovers at the Showgrounds last night.

Pike Rovers shocked the holders in the 57th minute when Colm Carroll opened the scoring.

Sligo levelled on 61 minutes with Jason McGuinness on target for his first goal for the club.

Sligo went ahead on 67 minutes when McGuinness headed the ball past Pike goalkeeper Gary Neville.

The home side went further ahead four minutes later when a shot by substitute Raffaele Cretaro took a deflection off Pike Rovers defender Brian Cleary on its way to the net.

But the Limerick men weren’t finished yet and when David Ryan scored on 85 minutes a replay looked a real possibility.

Alan Kirby and John Russell looked lively for the home side in the opening minutes of the first half but the Pike defence showed plenty of composure .

Sligo enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but their attempts on goal were frustrated by the visitors’ tenacious defending.

Paul Cooke’s side were caught napping in the 23rd minute when John Tierney put Ryan through on goal but his strike past Brendan Clarke was ruled out for offside.

Sligo missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead a minute later when Daryl Horgan was taken down in the box but Alan Keane’s penalty kick came back off the woodwork.

Sligo had another good chance two minutes before half-time but John Russell headed wide from a Horgan corner. Half-time couldn’t come quick enough for the Sligo boss as he set about spurring his side on to a more inventive second half.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Russell (Cretaro, 56), Kirby, Greene, Ventre (Ryan, 56), Foran, Keane, McGuinness, Davoren, Horgan (Gillen, 76), Blinkhorn.

PIKE ROVERS: Neville, Colbert, O Donovan, Mullins, Cleary, Kavanagh, Hartnett, Hanrahan (Ahern, 74), Ryan, Tierney (Phelan, 74), Carroll.

Referee: P McLoughlin (Monaghan).