Shamrock Rovers 2
McGill 15' Purcell 36'
Monaghan Utd. 0

Eircom League - Tolka Park - Tuesday 7th November 2006 ko 8.00pm

Rovers Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy, 2 Ger O'Brien, 3 Robbie Clarke, 4 Aidan Price, 5 Ian Ryan,
6 Ray Kenny, 7 Derek Pender, 8 Paul Shiels, 9 Tadhg Purcell, 10 Andy Myler,
11 David McGill.

Substitutes : 13 David Cassidy for Shiels 62', 14 Jamie Duffy, 15 Dave O'Connor for Clarke 69', 16 Chris Breen for Myler 65', 20 John McGuinness.

Match Report

The Hoops third game in seven days took its toll on the players and and an overall nervous and flat performance nevertheless was enough to claim the three points against a Monaghan side that battled throughout and were unlucky not to score themselves.

Myler just failed to get a touch on O'Briens fabulous cross on eight minutes but the Hoops number 10 turned provider in the 15th minute when he sent Purcell through on goal. The 'keeper made a good block but the ball fell into the path of David McGill and he scored from close range. This early goal was vital for Rovers as they struggled to impose themselves on the game.

A high ball into the Hoops area caused problems in the 25th minute and Lee almost got in behind the defence. McGill's cushioned header sent Purcell in on the left four minutes later but his low shot just missed the far post. A Myler cross in the 31st minute almost found Purcell but five minutes later Myler was on hand again to split the Monaghan defence and send Purcell in on goal. This time the Hoops leading scorer rounded the 'keeper and squeezed the ball into the corner of the net.

Straight away the visitors hit the Hoops cross-bar with a looping shot. The half finished with Pender shooting straight at the 'keeper and Purcell passing for Myler to shoot but he didn't connect properly with the ball.

O'Brien got behind the Monaghan defence right after half-time but Myler hesitated in the box and the chance was lost. Ryan was called upon to deny Lee a shot on goal before United missed their best chance of the evening in the 52nd minute when their number seven miss-hit his effort from six yards out. A minute later Kenny forced a save from the 'keeper but Monaghan thought they had scored when the number three crashed a shot off the Hoops cross-bar on the hour.

The Hoops goal was threatened again in the 68th minute when a low cross forced Ryan to clear before a corner was fumbled by Murphy and Rovers had to scramble the ball away to safety. With 10 minutes remaining, Purcell was sent in on goal from just inside the Monaghan half and he raced into the box but fired his shot over the bar. Murphy then made a fine stop from Lee's close range effort. Purcell almost met McGill's deep cross at the back post in the 84th minute. O'Brien and McGill combined as the game entered the four minutes of added on time and O'Briens low shot was well saved. Right at the death Purcell and Breen set up Cassidy in the box but this time the 'keeper saved with his feet and from the resulting corner Breen just failed to capitalise on a mistake by the 'keeper.