Page 30 - COBH WANDERERS V SLIGO ROVERS FAI CUP 3RD ROUND 2015

That meant Rovers would face familiar foes in the quarter-finals as Cobh Ramblers, by now a
Premier Division side, were drawn to meet Rovers in the Showgrounds. It was another tight
affair but this time no replays would be needed as Ger Houlahan scored the only goal of the
game to put Rovers into a first FAI Cup semi-final since 1987. The semi-final would be played
in the Showgrounds and again Rovers would have to overcome a Premier Division outfit to
make the final as Limerick were the visitors. After the game was originally postponed due to
the weather, Rovers eventually made their way to the final and again by a single goal with Ed-
die Annand, top scorer that year with 17 goals, proving the hero on this occasion.

The wait for the final would be a long one as due to the large crowd wishing to attend the
final between two well supported teams, Sligo Rovers and Derry City, the game was fixed for
Lansdowne Road which would not be available until May 15thover a month after the semi-
final had been played. As with Rovers last success it was another wet day for Rovers first visit
to the venue but a large crowd still made their way. They were to see Derry make the better
start as they hit the post after only six minutes with keeper Mark McLean being called upon
to make some important saves. However the game remained scoreless until the 72nd minute
when Eddie Annandwon a corner on the left. He took himself and found the head of Gerry
Carr who rose above all others in the box to head the ball into the net. Derry pressed forward
but still couldn’t find a way past McLean and the final whistle blew to signal that Rovers had
won the FAI Cup for the second time. It was left to another local, this time Gavin Dykes, to
raise the trophy in front of a crowd of jubilant Rovers fans. Sligo Rovers team that won the
FAI Cup final in 1994: McLean, McStay, McDonnell, Dykes, Boyle, Kenny, Carr, Hastie, Moran,
Annand, Gabbiadini
2010 - He saved them all
2010 proved to be the most successful cup year in Rovers history with both the FAI Cup and
the League Cup won ending 16 and 12 year waits respectively. The FAI Cup win was particu-
larly sweet following the heart-breaking loss to Sporting Fingal in the previous years final with
the Dublinside scoring two late goals to come from behind and beat Rovers. The first round
draw pitted Rovers against First Division Athlone Town who proved tough opposition to crack
with John Dillon’s solitary goal putting Rovers through at theShowgrounds. The next round
saw Rovers drawn away from home and again against First Division opposition in local rivals
Finn Harps. Another tight encounter was settled early on by a penalty from full-back Alan
Keane with Rovers keeping Harps at bay for the remainder of the game.

Another First Division side Monaghan United made the journey to the Showgrounds for the
quarter-finals just a week before the sides would meet in the League Cup final but on this oc-
casion it was more comfortable as Rovers ran out 3-0 winners. The scoring was opened again
by an Alan Keane penalty which was added to in the second half by goals fromRomuald Boco,
who had recently returned from a spell in England, and late-on with young local Mark McGold-
rickscoring his first Rovers goal. The semi-final draw pitted Rovers against tougher opponents
in the shape of Bohemians who were challenging for the league title at the time. But the trip
to Dalymount Park would see Rovers put in one of their finest displays as they dominated the
Dublin side by much more than the 1-0 scoreline suggests in a game that many seen as con-
firming Rovers arrival as a force to be reckoned with in Irish football. Despite playing some
of their best trademark passing football and creating many chances it wasn’t until the 75th
minute that Rovers final broke down their opponents with Gavin Peers heading in forcefully
from a Richie Ryan corner. That sent Rovers through to the first FAI Cup final to be played at
the newly refurbished Lansdowne Road stadium now known as the Aviva Stadium.

The opponents on that day would be league champions Shamrock Rovers who had twice pre-
viously denied Rovers in Cup finals. A massive crowd of 36,101 were in attendance to see the
sides battle it out, the highest attendance for 32 years. It was a very closely fought encounter
with neither sides ever really having the upper hand and in the end the deadlock remained
unbroken after 120 minutes of play meaning penalties would be needed to decide the game.
Ex-Shamrock Rovers forward Eoin Doyle was the first man to step up and he converted con-
fidently in front of the Rovers end of the ground. First to take for Shams was talisman Gary
Twigg but he seen his penalty saved by Ballinrobe’s Ciaran Kelly who has only recently got