Sligo Rovers progressed to the semi final of this season's FAI Cup at the expense of their north west rival's Derry City as it took penalty kicks to separate two sides who struggled to get going at different points in the two hours of game time played in The Showgrounds this evening.

A journey to Tallaght and a formidable pairing against double hunting Shamrock Rovers awaits for the Bit O'Red in the final four but they won't mind. The elimination of Derry City means virtually every last shred of doubt that Sligo will play in Europe next season. Only a highly unlikely outright FAI Cup win for Athlone Town the only obstacle to that situation now. 

This wasn't how it was supposed to be this season. Bottom of the table without a win at the restart, relegation was the description being used by most pundits but Liam Buckley and his crew rose to the occasion and it was a fixtures against the same opposition of tonight which started a remarkable run of form to see them finish in the top 4 of the league.

This evening it was the visitors who started the brighter. Some lovely interplay between Coll, Hamill and Akintunde down the Derry left promised to bear fruit for the candystripes but they just couldn't find the killer pass to create a clear cut opportunity for a team mate. 

The first half was more of a cagey affair with mistakes and misplaced passes showing the ring rust of two sides who hadn't played in over two weeks and in Derry's case had barely even trained due to COVID restrictions. 

For all their dominance it was Sligo who created the best opportunities and like buses, after waiting more than twenty minutes two came along at once. Coughlan latched onto a long ball and forced a tidy save from Cherrie while the resulting corner fell at the feet of Garry Buckley who just couldn't keep his volleyed effort down under the Derry netminder's crossbar.

In the second half it was a totally different story. Sligo started brightly and great work from Donelon and DeVries saw the full back released down the left but his looping cross was just a few inches too high for Cooper at the back post. His effort just didn't have the power or direction to bother Cherrie.

The home side gained a foothold in the game and dominated the possession but it was Derry who carved out the best shooting opportunities from there on. With just under 20 minutes to go it was Derry forward James Akintunde who found himself in acres of space after a bit of trickery near the corner flag saw him leave two defenders for dead. His effort went just wide of McGinty's goal with the Under 21 international beaten for probably the only time in the game.

A few moments later it was Stephen Mallon who forced another fine save from McGinty and the resulting corner found Cameron McJannett who saw his bullet header rebound to safety off the frame of McGinty's goal. Figueira's tame effort just before the end of full time barely forced McGinty to save as he gathered it in.

As it has been a number of times this season, injury time was the most entertaining aspect of the game with each side carving out an opportunity to win a game that neither really deserved on the balance of play. Hamill broke into the box and made McGinty save sharply while Rovers broke and a clever lob attempt brought the best of a troubled Cherry who recovered well to keep the effort out with the help of his clearing defenders.

Regan Donelon's energy was the highlight of the extra time with one cheeky effort on target from a mid range free kick when everyone was set up for a cross forced Cherrie to be quick to get a hand up to swot it away from the top corner.

There was to be no breakthrough in the encounter and the dreaded roulette of spot kicks would be required to decider who would progress.

With Coughlan and Clifford each scoring in the opening round. It was advantage Derry when former Candystripe Junior tried a cheeky chip but seemed to somehow miskick the effort and saw his shot tamely bounce off the post. But Derry couldn't capitalise and there next three attempts were all off target or hit the woodwork to give Sligo the easiest of penalty kick victories in the end and bring the curtain down on a relatively disappointing season for the Derry side.

Liam Buckley won't be overly happy with his sides performance in possession this evening but progress to the final four and tightening their grip on that final European place means there will be celebrations this evening in The Showgrounds.

Photo Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson