The outcome was tough on a Sligo side which were superb going forward with goalkeeper Aidan Devaney also having an outstanding game for the eventual losers in a clash which was a great advert for the competition.
Having an extra man was telling after a red card for Nathan Mullen, while Laverty also felt fitness was crucial as a number of Sligo players struggled when at a disadvantage in extra time.
Laverty explained: "It was a titanic battle there, wasn't it? But I felt our fitness showed through.
"The red card probably changed the game then. Sligo had a good foothold in the game. It probably gave us momentum, getting into the last 10 minutes of the game.
"I think football's very like that at the minute, that whenever the momentum swings, it's very hard to get it back. But credit to the lads now that dug in, and we've done a serious amount of training now.
"We're extremely fit. We've put these boys to the well an awful amount of times, and it says they got there that, you know, it comes through then."
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