Sligo/Leitrim’s great adventure in the Oscar Traynor Cup ended in the most cruel fashion of all when they were beaten in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final of the competition at sundrenched MacSharry Park on Sunday last.

One hundred and ten minutes of tense, exciting football failed to separate the sides and it all came down to the dreaded shoot-out, with Lee Marshall’s miss from Sligo’s sixth penalty eventually deciding the contest in favour of the visitors. It was rough justice on the

Sligo side who matched a strong and well-organised Clare outfit stride for stride throughout the course of a keenly-contested encounter but just couldn’t decorate their wholhearted endeavour with a winning goal.

With Gary Rooney dictating the pattern of the game from midfield and Marshall and Damien Scanlon also very adventurous, Sligo enjoyed a lot of possession and the constant probing of Keith Nibbs and Garreth Kelly posed plenty of problems for the Clare defence.

But the Munster side refused to buckle and the longer the game went on, the more they began to impose their authority. Indeed, they might well have won the game in normal time but for a linesman’s flag which ruled out what looked like a perfectly good goal in the second half. Both sides showed a commendable commitment to attacking football and there were chances at either end in the opening stages. Clare goalkeeper, Paul Healy, who had a spell with Sligo Rovers a few years ago, had to be alert to punch clear from Andrew McLoughlin’s inswinging corner after just three minutes while Sligo ‘keeper, Tony Clarke, proved his worth with a brave save at the feet of the inrushing Derek Fahy.

The home side came close to breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute when, following a sustained bout of pressure, Rooney unleashed a thundering 25 yard drive which narrowly missed the target. Minutes later, Scanlon’s incisive run and cross created a chance for Niall Flynn but Healy proved equal to the Sligo winger’s effort. Clare had their moments too and Clarke had to react smartly to parry Dave McCarthy’s well-struck effort three minutes after the break.

Just when it appeared the Munster side were taking control, Sligo struck for the opening goal in the 53rd minute. A penetrating attack involving Kelly and Marshall opened up the Clare defence and Richie Lillis was lured into a rash challenge on Nibbs. Referee, Tommy Cormican, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Nibbs applied the perfect finish, drving the ball low to the keeeper’s left.

Minutes later, Sligo came close to extending their lead when Nibbs set up Rooney who forced Healy to a fine save. Clare refused to panic, however, and got on level terms in the 66th minute. A teasing free from the left by McCarthy was met on the run by Eoin O’Brien who glanced a neat header low to the net. The goal signalled a period of dominance by the visitors.

McCarthy was unlucky with a free kick which clipped the top of the crossbar and then Fahy headed powerfully to the net from Liam Murphy’s cross only to have the effort ruled out for offside.

In a frantic finish, Sligon almost snatched a dramatic winner but Kelly’s close range effort drifted agonisingly wide of the post in the 84th minute. Chances were few and far between in extra time although Sligo were desperately unlucky not to grab a winner when Scanlon’s effort was scrambled clear in the very last minute.

Neal McKenna, Packie Callaghan, John Gaffney and Nibbs were all on target for Sligo in the penalty shoot-out while David Russell, Eamon O’Reilly, Matt Nugent and Con Collins were successful for Clare. It then went to ‘sudden death’ and it was all over for the home side when Marshall blazed his spot kick over the bar.

SLIGO/LEITRIM: Clarke, McKenna, A McLoughlin, Gaffney, Callaghan, Rooney, Marshall, Scanlon, Kelly, Nibbs, Flynn. Subs: R McLoughlin for Flynn (52 mins), G O’Boyle for Kelly (97 mins)

REFEREE: Mr.T Cormican, Roscommon

• A minute’s silence was observed before the match in memory of the late Eugene Deering, father of League of Ireland referee Paul Deering.