Kilduff secures stoppage time winner for Shamrock Rovers
Ciaran Kilduff proved Shamrock Rovers’ supersub with a dramatic stoppage time winner as they beat Coleraine 2-0 at the Showgrounds for a 2-1 aggregate victory to set up a cracking Setanta Sports Cup quarter-final tie with Linfield.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, man-of-the-match Mark Quigley put Rovers ahead on the night with a stunning volley on six minutes before Kilduff prevented extra-time to win the tie when punishing sloppy defending to sweep the ball home a minute into added time.
There was no such luck for fellow Dubliners St. Patrick’s Athletic as they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Glentoran, the only goal of the tie coming from midfielder Martin Murray in the 62nd minute of last night second leg at the Oval.
As expected, Cork City, 4-0 up from the first leg, eased through on a 6-2 aggregate after a 2-2 draw at Cliftonville while Drogheda United trounced Portadown 5-0 to cruise through on an 8-2 aggregate.
Winger Daryl Horgan put Cork ahead after 15 minutes at Solitude with Liam Boyce pulling a goal back for Cliftonville shortly before half-time. Danny Furlong restored Cork's lead seven minutes into the second before Stephen Garrett earned the runaway Irish League leaders a draw on the night with an 87th minute equaliser.
The goals flowed for Drogheda at Shamrock Park with defender Alan Byrne giving them the lead as early as the first minute when forcing the ball home from a corner. Midfielder Paul O'Conor doubled the lead eleven minutes later. Second half strikes from Gavin Brennan, David Cassidy and Philip Hand completed the rout.
Following the draw made after tonight's games, Cork face holders Crusaders in the last eight while Drogheda play Derry City and Sligo Rovers will meet Glentoran.
The two-legged quarter-final ties are set for the 4th and 11th of March with the exception of the first leg of the Cork City v Crusaders tie which will take place at Turner's Cross next Tuesday, February 26th, with the second leg on March 4th.
Setanta Sports Cup (Quarter-final draw):
Sligo Rovers v Glentoran
Cork City v Crusaders
Derry City v Drogheda United
Shamrock Rovers v Linfield.
