Goal for Sligo
Shane Blaney's early strike set the tone for the rest of the mate

Motherwell were outclassed by an inspired Sligo Rovers as the hapless Scots were dumped out of the playoffs.

Already a goal up from last week's first leg, Shane Blaney's early rocket of a free- kick gave the Irish hosts a commanding hold of the tie.

There was a famous result.

It was never in question against the Scottish side.

They were jeered by the travelling support at full-time, while the Sligo fans celebrated the possibility of a meeting with Viking.

  • Reaction & as it happened

Motherwell needed to perform better at Fir Park if they were going to overturn the score. It wouldn't have been possible to sketch a worse start.

Liam Kelly's goal was 25 yards away from Bevis Mugabi's goal. It was sensational.

Blaney deceived the Motherwell goalkeeper with a shot into the far top corner to extend his team's lead.

When Ricki Lamie volleyed in from close range, Motherwell looked to have replied immediately, but screams of relief rather than joy were heard.

The lack of chances created by Graham Alexander's side in the first half was startling.

It was Kelly who was kept alert. The strike lacked venom as it flew straight at the Motherwell keeper.

Sligo was creative and confident after the break. Motherwell were disorganized and sterile.

Will Fitzgerald made Paul McGinn fall into a daze. The execution was off target when he showed inside and out.

Alexander rolled the dice on the two men. Even though the link-up between the two was the most inspired over the 90 minutes, Efford's effort when a rare chance fell his way narrowly missed.

Things were going to get worse for the Scottish side in the last moments of the game.

Mata didn't make a mistake when the ball fell to him. The first touch was to control and the second was to get Motherwell out of Europe before the season starts.

'We've taken our chance to make history' - reaction

John Russell said it was a big moment. I told the players about the opportunity to make history.

We had to be strong defensively. It's wonderful to start the game with a free- kick. A good performance was put on by us. We need to produce shocks.

Motherwell didn't compete at the right level to win the game. The poor goal put us on the back foot.

It was the best start for them. We got going, but it was stopped by Sligo. We didn't have the will to win the game.

  • 16McNicholas
  • 2Banks
  • 19Kirk
  • 4Blaney
  • 26Buckley
  • 17McDonnellBooked at 16minsSubstituted forBarlowat 79'minutes
  • 8MorahanSubstituted forMataat 69'minutesBooked at 25mins
  • 22CawleySubstituted forPijnakerat 79'minutes
  • 7FitzgeraldSubstituted forLiivakat 90'minutes
  • 14O’Sullivan
  • 9Keena
  • 6Bolger
  • 10Liivak
  • 12Byrne
  • 25Heaney
  • 27Mata
  • 28Pijnaker
  • 30Brush
  • 31Walsh
  • 34Barlow
  • 41Clancy
  • 44McCarthy
  • 1Kelly
  • 16McGinnBooked at 62mins
  • 3Carroll
  • 4Lamie
  • 5MugabiSubstituted forSolholm Johansenat 71'minutes
  • 6MaguireSubstituted forGossat 69'minutes
  • 8Slattery
  • 23MorrisBooked at 47mins
  • 7SpittalSubstituted forShieldsat 45'minutes
  • 26TierneySubstituted forEffordat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9van Veen
  • 2O'Donnell
  • 11Efford
  • 12Fox
  • 14Ojala
  • 15Solholm Johansen
  • 18Cornelius
  • 27Goss
  • 28Mahon
  • 29Shields
  • 31Connolly
  • 35Campbell