Sligo Rovers stormed into the EA Sports Cup Final as the league’s leading scorer Padraig Amond scored twice to dump his former club Shamrock Rovers out of the competition in a gripping encounter at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night. A semi-final that had everything entralled a crowd of over 2,000 as two of the oldest rivals in Irish football battled it out for a place in the decider, where Paul Cook’s side will now meet First Division Monaghan United at the end of September.

Amond’s brace decorated another impressive display by the red Rovers, who played the better football throughout and who created several chances against a more ‘route one’ Hoops, who were denied at the death when Thomas Stewart had the ball in the net but a referee’s assistant had already flagged for offside before he slammed it past John Gibson.

If some of Rovers attacking play was in keeping with the impressive form of recent performances, defensively they were ropey at times and goalkeeper Gibson certainly had some anxious and worrying moments, particularly in the latter stages as Shams stepped up the search for an equaliser and Rovers were pressed deeper into their own territory.

Having climbed to third in the Airtricity Premier Division with a four-nil win over U.C.D. four days earlier and subsequently dropping a position as a result of Bohemians victory over Bray Wanderers also on Tuesday night, Cook made three changes to his staring eleven with Gavin Peers replacing Jim Lauchlan in the centre of the back four, Richie Ryan returning from suspension to come in for John Dillon in midfield and Eoin Doyle introduced for Joseph Ndo, who picked up a slight knock against U.C.D.

Alan Keane, Peers, Derek Foran and Iarfhlaith Davoren were the defensive unit, with Gary McCabe, Ryan, Conor O’Grady and Doyle in front of them and Amond and Romauld Boco in attack, though the Benin international also dropped deep to prompt Rovers with some intelligent play throughout. Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill also fielded a strong team as the Hoops sought a place in the Final.

It’s twelve years since the ‘Bit O’Red’ won the League Cup for the only time in their history in 1998 and Tuesday night’s defeat of the Dubliners certainly erased the bitter memories of last season when at the semi-final stage Cook’s charges were leading twoone against Bohemians, but the Gypsies equalised just ten seconds from the end and then snatched a four-two win after extra-time.

With the ‘Forza’ Rovers fans declaring that the ‘West’s Awake’ at the start, there was a bright opening to the contest with boths sides posting some early attacks. In the 3rd minute, Billy Dennehy found himself in a good position for Shams but from his cross Robert Bayly failed to connect properly and the ball rolled across goal.

A minute later, Doyle passed to O’Grady and the midfielder’s deflected shot was initially saved by Hoops ‘keeper Alan Mannus, who gathered at the second attempt.

James Chambers clattered into a tackle on Iarfhlaith Davoren on the main stand side of the ground moments later as the tone for an intense and breathless first-half was set from the outset.

On seven minutes Richie Ryanalways an influential figure in the midfield engine room-flicked the ball to O’Grady who set up Boco for a shot under pressure which was held by Mannus.

Three minutes later, Doyle headed behind from a Ryan corner and the first booking of the game was handed out by referee Neil Doyle to Shams striker Gary Twigg for dissent after a tackle on Derek Foran.

Centre-back Dan Murray denied Amond a clear shot on goal in the 15th minute, before Shams took the lead two minutes later when Stephen Rice’s long throw from the Jink’s Avenue side was cleared to Murray who delivered it back for Twigg to loop an attempt goalwards. Rovers ‘keeper Gibson opted to catch the ball rather than put it over the crossbar and as he collided with his right hand upright he carried it over the line and referee’s assistant Damien McGrath signalled the lead goal.

Rovers were level within thirty seconds as from the kick-off Amond gained possession to skip past Murray to run on and shoot low beyond Mannus. The home side remained somewhat nervy at the back and in the 22nd minute Gibson spilled Robert Bayly’s effort but recovered to collect the ball in his six yard box.

A minute later Dennehy raided for the Hoops with a good run and as he tried to set up Twigg for his second, Gibson left his line to smother at the striker’s feet.

Gary McCabe continued to work tirelessly on the wings, switching with Doyle from right to left, and in the 29th minute it was from the left that he cut in past a Shamrock Rovers defender to spin the ball across the area with too much pace for Amond to connect. Shams had claims for a penalty waved away a minute later when Twigg went down as ‘the meat in the sandwich’ between two defenders in the home area.

McCabe’s curling shot then forced Mannus to parry it away and Enda Stevens hacked it to safety. Ten minutes from half-time, a Boco crossed had the Shams defenders in trouble until Aidan Price got it away. Boco was booked shortly afterwards for a foul on Stephen Rice.

Alan Keane advance from right back into the Hoops area in the 41st minute but he couldn’t get proper delivery on his initial effort and Doyle’s follow up from Amond’s pass was gathered by Mannus. The half closed with Doyle running forward from midfield to shoot to the right and wide.

The second-half was only four minutes old when Amond struck for what proved to be the winner and his twenty-third goal of a remarkable season in all competitions.

The move began as Aidan Price’s clearance was blocked and Doyle slipped the ball through to Amond who smashed his shot home past Mannus at his near post.

Hoops captain Murray picked up a yellow card for a foul on the ex-Shams striker seven minutes later. Rovers had opportunities to increase their advantage and in the 59th minute Romauld Boco touched a Ryan corner behind at the far post and Amond again just failed to connect with the ball in a crowded area a minute later.

Shams introduced Paddy Kavanagh for Bayly on the hour mark and the substitute was involved almost immediately as he combined with Pat Flynn whose cross dropped for Twigg. However, his shot was deflected and fell for Rice whose shot in turn was also deflected wide.

An Alan Keane cross in the 65th minute carried too much pace to produce an end product after Boco and O’Grady were involved in the build-up and a minute later Stewart’s header was only narrowly wide with Gibson scambling across his line.

In the closing ten minutes the Dubliners pushed Price forward and he was frequently joined by Murray as the Hoops tried to find eqauality. Dennehy headed wide and while Boco ran forward to shoot over, Shams kept up the chase for a second goal as substitute Stephen Bradley was booked for dissent and Gary McCabe also saw yellow for a foul on Enda Stevens.

The closing phase was as hectic as it was tense for the home fans with Gibson just getting to a Murry header before Twigg could connect and the ‘keeper then missing a Kavanagh cross and lucky to escape in the resultant scamble.

Gibson fumbled a Stevens cross moments later but recovered to block Rice’s attempt and the ‘keeper was relieved to see Twigg’s shot curl narrowly wide. Shams forced a corner in the third minute of the four added on and goalkeeper Mannus went forward as Bradley crossed and Pat Flynn headed wide.

The last part of the drama came when Stephen Price pushed the ball forward into Stewart’s path and though he beat Gibson the relief for the Rovers supporters was palpable as referee’s assistant Terence Moyne held his flag up for offside.

SLIGO ROVERS: Gibson, Keane, Peers, Foran, Davoren, Doyle, O’Grady, Ryan, McCabe, Boco, Amond. Subs-Ventre for O’Grady (72 mins), Blinhorn for Amond (83 mins), Russell for Boco (90 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Flynn, Murray, Price, Stevens, Bayly, Chambers, Rice, Dennehy, Stewart, Twigg. Subs-Kavanagh for Bayly (60 mins), Bradley for Chambers (68 mins).

Referee: Neal Doyle (Dublin).