Sligo Rovers 2, Cork City 1A TOWERING header from Sligo Rovers talisman Rafael Cretaro in the second period of extra-time broke Cork City hearts in last night's epic FAI Ford Cup third-round replay as goalkeeper Richard Brush's denial of Danny Murphy's spot-kick thwarted the lifeline lottery of penalties for the Leesiders.

Cretaro’s header from substitute Sean Doherty’s right-wing cross – his second goal of the night and ninth of the season – put Sligo Rovers 2-1 up in the 107th minute but four minutes later Brush assumed the role of villain-and-hero when the goalkeeper conceded a penalty after impeding Alan O’Connor in the penalty area.

Brush’s save put Sligo Rovers on the road to a glorious result in front of a packed venue and the home side enjoyed further luck in the dying seconds when Colin Healy’s header came off the crossbar.

Cork City went ahead with a fifth-minute goal from Guntars Silagailis, the striker diverting home Danny Murphy’s cross.

Sligo equalised after 41 minutes, Cretaro clinically finishing from inside the penalty area to set up an intriguing second-half.

SLIGO ROVERS:Brush; Keane, Feeney (Noctor 53), Ventre, Keohane; Cash (Doherty 53), Ryan, O'Grady, Morrison; Cretaro, Boco Subs not used: Doherty, Noctor, Chris Kelly, Ciaran Kelly. Booked:O'Grady 70, Brush 111

CORK CITY:Connor; Sullivan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; Kiely (Duggan 109), Silagailis, Lordan, Healy, Duggan (O'Donnell 65); Behan (O'Connor 65) Subs not used:Horgan, Long, McNulty (gk) Booked: O'Halloran 64, O'Donnell 92, Kiely 96, Sullivan 99, Healy 105

Referee:P Sutton.