Shamrock Rovers 4
Myler 16', Pender 61', Purcell 85', Cassidy 90'
Finn Harps 0

Eircom League - Tolka Park - Friday 10th 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 McGill 82', 14 Jamie Duffy, 15 Paul Gannon for Clarke 56', 16 Ger Rowe for Myler 76', 20 John McGuinness.

Match Report

It was an emphatic win in the end and the Rovers fans celebrations got under way when the second goal went in but in truth the first 60 minutes was a very nervous affair with Harps playing their part in a tense game. Rovers started fairly well with some early pressure and McGills low cross hit Purcell but went wide. Myler forced an early corner that was eventually cleared after 9 minutes and Purcell made a good clearance in his own box just a minute later.

The first goal arrived in bizarre circumstances when a poor back pass went behind the 'keeper and Myler gave chase. It looked like the Harps 'keeper Gallagher would win the chase but somehow Myler slid in to poke the ball home. The goal settled Rovers but it was the Donegal men that hit back with Murphy punching away a free-kick on 25 minutes but the ball was returned and headed dangerously across goal. The Harps number eleven then dragged a shot across goal when well placed in the area after 26 minutes.

Purcell had a chance in the 28th minute but Gallagher blocked his effort and Murphy was on hand to make a great catch seven minutes from time as the first half petered out.

Purcell almost capitalised on another blunder in the Harps defence in the 49th minute but he took too long to shoot and the chance was lost. The game was still evenly poised until the 61st minute when McGill and Myler combined to send a high cross to the back post and Pender rose above the defence to head powerfully into the net.

The Hoops fans could at last relax and celebrate as Rovers took control. Purcell blasted over from inside the area on 72 minutes and there was a loud cheer for Ger Rowe when he came on for Myler in the 76th minute. An O'Brien free-kick saw Purcell stretch but fail to make contact in the 82nd minute.

However Purcell got the goal he deserved when he rose above a static defence to powerfully head home O'Briens corner to claim his 11th goal of the season with just five minutes remaining. The icing on the cake came in the 90th minute when Ray Kenny showed his skill to find Cassidy at the back post and the Hoops substitute curled a fine shot into the corner of the net. Cue celebrations.