Athlone Town 0
Shamrock Rovers 2
Scorers : Duffy 72', Doyle 90'

Rovers Team

Rovers Team : 1 Barry Murphy, 2 David Cassidy, 3 Robbie Clarke, 4 Aidan Price, 5 Seamus Long, 6 Ray Scully, 7 Jamie Duffy, 8 Gareth Cooney, 9 Robbie Shields, 10 Tadhg Purcell, 11 Cathal O'Connor, Substitutes : 14 Willie Doyle (Purcell 79'), 15 Padraig Amond (Shields 89'), 16 Ian Ryan, 17 Derek Treacy, 20 John McGuinness.

Match Report

The Hoops took the initiative right from the beginning of this game and caused all sorts of problems for the home side. Cathal O'Connor crashed a 20 yard shot off the post after only 4 minutes and just two minutes later a fine run from Ray Scully set up Purcell but he mis-hit his shot and the 'keeper saved.

On a soft and bumpy pitch it took the home side until the 18th minue for an effort on goal but even then the Hoops defence were alert to the danger. O'Connor hit a 25 yard free-kick straight to the 'keeper on 21 minutes before a great run by Cassidy saw his low cross find Cooney in the box but the shot was scuffed and the 'keeper saved.

Rovers were creating the openings with some nice play and they constantly moved the ball around and denied Athlone possession. In the 37th minute O'Connor ran into the box and found Purcell who laid the ball off to Scully who shot first time only to see the 'keeper save at the second attempt. The Rovers fans were relieved to see Duffy open the scoring on 39 minutes when an O'Connor corner fell nicely to him at the back post and he made no mistake from close range. Right on half-time Duffy almost made it two when he fired a shot inches wide.

At the start of the 2nd half Purcell just failed to connect with a good cross before Shields pounced in the 51st minute to coolly flick home a through ball from Duffy from a tight angle. The home side responded and they had their best chance of the game from a header that was cleared as it looked to be heading goalwards. From the resultant corner the Hoops defence had to scramble to get the ball away.

However the game was up for Athlone when Moran received two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off. Purcell had a great chance to extend the lead in the 64th minute when a Shields flick sent him through on goal but he poked the ball wide of the post.

A speculative effort from the Athlone number 6 from almost 30 yds almost caught Murphy off-guard but he did well to tip the ball over via the cross-bar. Murphy then caught the resultant corner to snuff out the threat. Rovers last chance fell to sub Doyle in the 89th minute when he went on a fine run into the box but his shot was blocked for a corner.

Hoops Line-up v Athlone Town 16.03.06