Four penalty saves in succession by Sligo Rovers ‘keeper Ciaran Kelly ensured that his team denied Shamrock Rovers a double in a dramatic FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.
After 120 minutes in which both sides had failed to score, it was a flawless display from Kelly in the penalty shoot out that won the Bit O’Red their second ever FAI Cup.
He denied Gary Twigg, Pat Flynn, Chris Turner and Paddy Kavanagh to cement his place in Sligo football folklore, while Eoin Doyle and Gary MCabe converted their spot kicks to earn Sligo the silverware.
In front of a fantastic crowd of 36,101 the game began at a frantic pace. Iarfhlaith Davoren of Sligo had the first effort of the game but his 30-yard shot flew well wide. Minutes later Shamrock Rovers dangerman Twigg was on the end of a loose ball that spun his way from a Gary Chambers freekick but he shot over from inside the box.
On 15 minutes the best chance of the half fell to Sligo’s Romauld Boco when he found himself unmarked from a corner, eight yards from goal, but his header was expertly saved by Alan Mannus in the Dubliners goal.
From that point on Sligo dominated the half and Gavin Peers, from another corner, had another chance to break the deadlock but he directed his header just wide of the right post.
The Hoops had more of the ball at the beginning of the second period and they started to craft some half chances. Steven Bradley and Twigg both came close before yet another gilt-edged chance fell to the Bit O’Red.
Boco found space, crossed to the feet of McCabe but he somehow blazed over when it seemed easier to score.
Craig Sives was dictating the flow in midfield for the Tallaght-based club but the tenacious Sligo defence was preventing them creating the clear chance they needed to win the game.
With just five to go the league champions almost won it when first Billy Dennehy from distance and then Twigg with a header tested Kelly but he made two magnificent saves to send the game to extra-time.
The first period of extra-time was almost completely devoid of scoring chances as both sides looked to be feeling the effects of their exertions.
Shamrock Rovers’ Stephen Bradley was sent off for second bookable after five minutes of the second period of extra-time for a tired tackle on Alan Keane. Keane had chances either side of the foul to decide matters but he too was unable to find the target.
That meant it ended 0-0 and the scene was set for Kelly to shine.