Malahide Uniteds glorious Firsts ended their season tonight, nearly 10 months after their campaign started on this very pitch against Glebe North. The draw in the Showground three days ago kicked off a massive exercise by the club to have everything in place for Bobby, Declan, Kevin and the rest of the lads on this huge night.

The crowds were there, with many of our schoolboy/girl footballers in attendance to cheer on their heroes. Lets face it - heroes they are! There is no need to go on about this fantastic season of theirs, as it is well documented all over this website (have a look here anyway). It was a big night for everyone and nerves were showing here and there - especially in dressing room 2 where both Malahide United U8Ds (DDSL U8D and NDSL U8D) were waiting to walk out as mascots for the Firsts and for Sligo Rovers. Everybody involved with the club knows that the current 51 school and youth teams are the future of Malahide United. Kevin should know, he has two footballers on their way up through the age groups! Paul Reilly, John Gaines and Paul Smith are three of the Firsts that started their careers at schoolboy level, how many youngsters watching tonight will emulate these guys?

The match itself was close with our lads fighting all the way. Sligo had created their chances during the game but almost fell behind, with only an acrobatic save from John O'Hara keeping out Wayne Griffens wonderful lob 22 minutes from the end of normal time. Paul Mc Tiernan scored his first three minutes into extra time and his second in the second period of extra time.

It has been a fantastic achievement for the club in their first season at the highest level. Congratulations to Bobby Brown and Declan Roche and more importantly to all the squad, it is nice to see their commitment and dedication rewarded.

Good luck to Wayne and the Republic of Ireland amateur team that head off for the forthcoming U.E.F.A. Regions Cup Finals to be held in the city of Krakow, Poland from July 2nd to 9th. See more here and follow Irelands progress in Poland by clicking on the U.E.F.A. logo.

Bernard O'Connor - Secretary Ballymun United FC

"Well done against Sligo Rvrs on Tue night. First visit to Gannon Park and totally impressed with the development, excellent facilities and the organisation on the night would put a lot of Eircom League clubs to shame, wrong result of course but won a lot of admirers".

Michael Moran Soccer Reporter - Sligo Champion

"Hi from The Sligo Champion. Just a note to first of all congratulate Malahide on their magnificent displays against Sligo Rovers in the F.A.I. Cup over both games. Secondly, to thank all of you for the hospitality shown to me as I covered the replay on Tuesday night. It was appreciated. Continued good luck to Bobby Browne and all the lads."

You can read Michaels report of the first match in the Sligo Champion here.

Brian Weir - Armagh City FC

Brian traveled down from Armagh to see if Malahide could progress to the next round! "I am a football supporter in Northern Ireland and have noticed the result against Sligo. I try to get a couple of trips each year to see a Cup game, preferably the underdog at home to more senior side. I've seen all English League clubs, all Irish League and all League of Ireland at either Dundalk or Monaghan plus one home game at all grounds except Kildare and Waterford. I loved the facilities at Gannon Park but left disappointed that Malahide didn't get the win".

Thanks for making the M1 trek Brian.

KEVIN CRAVEN is the toast of our 1,000 footballers, the entire club and to the community of Malahide last night after his late strike in this FAI Cup tie at the Showground. LSL Senior Sunday (5th position in our first season), Metropolitan Cup and Cahill Cup final team captain Kevin - headed our battling Firsts level in the 78th minute from Alan Corcoran's well-directed corner kick and sent shock waves through the Reds supporters.

Paul McTiernan put Sligo ahead on 21 minutes, scoring at the near post following good play by Fahrudin Kudozovic. We should have taken the lead after four minutes of the first half when livewire striker Alan Corcoran found himself with only John O'Hara to beat but somehow he screwed his shot inches wide of the post.

Malahide United: Colin Blanche, Mark McGovern (Trainor 73), Stephen Reddy, Alan Doyle, John Gaines, Adam Shadabadaneen (Predervill 90), Alan Corcoran, Kevin Craven, Wayne Griffin, Austin Skelly, Stephen Bennett.

Man of the match : Wayne Griffin (pictured on the right)

Rovers begin quest for Cup glory © Sligo Champion

IN recent years the draw for the F.A.I. Cup has had a penchant for handing Sligo Rovers opening round fixtures against non-league opposition.The enduring romance and continued attraction of the Cup is once again reflected in Saturday night’s tie against Leinster Senior League side, Malahide United.

It is the classic scenario, the eircom League side expected to win, the underdog with nothing to lose...a potential shock waiting to upset the odds.Rovers managed to avoid such embarrassment in fixtures against Leeds A.F.C., Greystones and Moyle Park in their last three cup ties against teams from outside their own ranks.Manager, Sean Connor, however, is guarding against any complacency and is taking nothing for granted ahead of his first F.A.I. Cup clash.

“I was pleased with the draw when I saw it. The first thing you want is a home tie and we were fortunate enough to get that. The second thing you look for is a team you feel you have a chance of beating and obviously we also got that. Yet, allowing for those considerations, we are not going to underestimate Malahide. We will treat them with the same respect as though we were playing Cork City, Shelbourne, Dublin City, or any other club. We don’t want to allow them become cup giant killers at our expense,” Connor said.

Malahide were promoted from the Second Division of the L.S.L. under former Monaghan United boss, Bobby Browne, last season and consolidated their position in the top flight by finishing fifth in a season just ended.The Dubliners also reached two Cup Finals, losing the Metropolitan Cup and Charlie Cahill Cup to Crumlin.As part of his preparations, Connor watched Malahide in one of those fixtures and despite a four-nil defeat, the Rovers manager felt they were well organised.

“The first goal ‘killed’ them. They worked hard, but they won’t be as fit as we are. They have one or two experienced players and I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion. We must remain professional, patient and clinical in taking chances that come our way,” the Rovers manager maintained. Connor stressed that he would not allow his players lose their focus or slacken in any aspect of the match just because they were pitted against non-league opposition.

“That is my job and no one will be under any illusions as to what we have to do. This is an important fixture for myself, the players and indeed the club. We want to win it and to progress to the next round,” he said. Connor will have to plan without the injured Liam Burns, the central defender having signed an extension to his contract until the end of July and Rovers hoping that he will eventually put pen to paper for the rest of the season.

“Liam is a loss. He failed a fitness test prior to last Friday’s game against Galway and we have decided to give him a full week to recover prior to the Limerick league match. We will have to plan without him, but again it is the chance for someone to come in and do a job,” he explained.

The Rovers manager says he is eagerly looking forward to his first Cup match in charge at the Showgrounds.

“The Cup is always special, no matter what country you are in. I remember getting to the F.A. Cup First Round proper when I was coach under John McGinley at Ilkeston Town and there was a great buzz around the place then. I am aware of what the F.A.I. Cup means to the people of Sligo. When I arrived here, the talk was of 1983 and winning the trophy for the first time and of the treble under Willie McStay in 1994. The Cup has provided Sligo Rovers with some of their better days and, hopefully, we can go on and add to that,” Connor went on.

Ironically, Connor’s player/ coach, Gerry Carr, scored the winning goal against Derry City at Lansdowne Road in ‘94 and the manager has revealed that some of the younger players in the squad have asked the defender about that experience. Their thoughts are most definitely on the Cup this week and the youngsters were keen to know what it was like to play in the Cup Final. Things are beginning to build up and there is a good atmosphere about the place. Playing in the league brings its own particular pressure and we are doing reasonably well in the First Division. However, as manager, an extended Cup run is something I want. When I took over at Sligo Rovers I made it perfectly clear that I was here to win things. I would be delighted to lift the F.A.I. Cup in Sligo.

“Managers come and go at football clubs all the time. Most are remembered only if they win things. I want the people of Sligo to remember me as a winner,” Connor declared.

Turning his thoughts to the game, the manager feels it will be physical, typically hard fought, with Malahide likely to try to close Rovers down at every opportunity. "When you play against teams in your own league, or indeed above it, you can expect sides to do certain things. It is predictable in many respects, teams keep their shape, work a certain way and are well disciplined. The fact is that non-league teams sometimes lose their discipline and that indiscipline can cause you problems, given that you just simply don’t know what is going to happen. That is something we are going to have to be cautious about. Having said all of that, we will concentrate on our own game. We have a lot of players making their F.A.I. Cup debuts and I sense they have an appetite for it and are looking forward to it.

“It will be different to what we are normally accustomed to, and it goes without saying that we want a victory,” he added. Winning the Cup means winning a relatively small number of games. Every match you win brings you nearer the big prize. Getting to the next stage is all that matters. I am determined that Sligo Rovers will be in the hat for the next round,” Connor said.

He has also appealed to supporters to turn out in large numbers and to get behind the team.

“This is a big game for us. Malahide come as having nothing to lose. Of course they would love to be the team to be remembered for causing the proverbial shock. We are intent on ensuring that won’t happen,” the Rovers manager concluded.