Shamrock Rovers 3
D.McGill 16', Myler 33', Rowe 44'
Limerick FC 1
McCarthy 72'

Eircom League - Tolka Park - Monday 9th October 2006 ko 8.00pm

Rovers Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy, 2 Ger O'Brien, 3 Robbie Clarke, 4 Aidan Price, 5 Ray Kenny,
6 Vinny Perth , 7 Derek Pender, 8 Eric McGill, 9 Andy Myler, 10 Gerard Rowe,
11 David McGill.

Substitutes : 13 Tadhg Purcell for Pender 73', 14 Ian Ryan for Perth 37', 16 Chris Breen for Rowe 65', 17 Padraig Amond, 20 John McGuinness.

Match Report

Rovers needed to win tonight and they started the game well causing the Limerick defence problems early on. After only 3 minutes a good move saw Rowe volley across goal and a defender cleared from under the post. From the corner the ball fell nicely again for Rowe but this time he shot over. On 13 minutes it was Rowe again this time heading over O'Briens cross.

The Hoops made the breakthrough on 16 minutes when Myler beat a defender in the box and fired a shot that O'Neill in goal did well to block but the ball rebounded off David McGill into the net. Rovers were playing with confidence and Rowe set up Eric McGill who shot just over the bar. The game changed dramatically just after the half-hour when Myler was sent in on goal only to see O'Neill handle his effort clearly outside the box. The 'keeper was duly sent off and replacement 'keeper Healy could only watch as Myler drove his free-kick into the net for the Hoops second.

Ray Kenny looked like he was tripped inside the area on 42 minutes but the ref waved play on. With just a minute remaining Myler played a good low ball past the Limerick defence and Rowe ran on to coolly lob the advancing 'keeper for Rovers third.

The second half was a scrappy affair and there was a five minute stoppage when a Limerick player had to be carried off the field with a bad injury. Pender went on a fine run but couldn't breach the defence and it was Limerick who kept on playing football and never gave up. However Kenny had a golden opportunity to make it four when some good play by sub Breen saw his shot saved well by the Limerick 'keeper and then his second effort was cleared off the line.

However Limerick got their reward for their dogged performance when McCarthy netted from inside the area on 72 minutes. This woke up the Hoops and Breen caused difficulties for the visiting defence when he set up Purcell in the box but the Limerick number five did well to block. In the last ten minutes McGill shot straight at the 'keeper from a tight angle and Breen shot wide when well placed in the box. Purcell should have scored near the end when Breen set him up at the edge of the area but he dragged his effort wide of the post. Another effort from Purcell from 20 yards was deflected just wide in the dying minutes.