Goalkeeper Aidan Devaney was the hero for Sligo as they secured a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win over near rivals Leitrim to book their place in the Tailteann Cup semi-finals at Croke Park on June 19.

After being denied victory in normal time by a stirring Leitrim comeback, Devaney successfully saved two penalties in the shootout - guessing the correct way to keep out efforts by Ryan O'Rourke and Emlyn Mulligan.

The packed crowd at Pairc Sean MacDiarmada were certainly given value for money after 90 minutes of football failed to separate the sides, with Leitrim sharpshooter Keith Beirne forcing penalties at 1-19 to 2-16.

Beirne, who finished with 0-8 to his name, also sent the contest to extra-time as his equalising point in normal-time left the scoreboard reading 1-16 to 2-13 after Sligo had led by four with two minutes or normal-time remaining.

Andy Moran's Leitrim had enjoyed the perfect start to proceedings in Carrick-on-Shannon, Jack Heslin beat Devaney for the game's opening goal on two minutes and they led by 0-0 to 1-2.

Having fought back to lead by 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time, the Sligo defence was breached again when Jordan Reynolds raised the home's side's second green flag early in the second period but substitute Mark Walsh replied in kind at the other end for Tony McEntee's charges.

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