Cobh Ramblers 1
Cambridge 79'
Shamrock Rovers 1
Purcell 84'

Eircom League - St Colmans Park - Sat. 18th November 2006 ko 7.45pm

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 Pender 65', 14 Eric McGill, 15 Chris Breen for McGill 75', 16 Ger Rowe for Myler 24', 20 John McGuinness.

Match Report

Rovers were awarded the first division trophy to the delight of the large number of Hoops fans present on a cold night in St Colmans Park. However Ramblers almost spoiled the party when Cambridger capitised on some hesitant defending to give the home side the lead in the 79th minute. However Tadhg Purcell popped up in the 84th minute to claim his 12th goal of the season and earn the point needed to get the trophy. It was a dramatic finish to the game that saw Ramblers finish with 9 men.

The first half was a pretty dour affair with neither side creating many chances. In the 19th minute Price almost gifted the home side a goal when his header back to Murphy went past the Hoops 'keeper but the Rovers captain recovered well to clear. Ger Rowe replaced Myler in the 24th minute and two minutes later made good space for himself at the edge of the box but his shot was weak. Purcell set up McGill in the 28th minute and his cross fell for Kenny but he shot over the bar.

The best move of the 'half saw Rovers break down the left after 33 minutes for Clarke to cross and Rowe's header was tipped over the bar by the Ramblers 'keeper Holden. A minute later McGill got on the end of a Rowe delivery but again the 'keeper denied the Hoops this time with his feet. Ramblers had a late chance but Ryan cleared a dangerous low cross.

The home side upped their performance in the second half and Murphy was called upon to tip over a fine shot in the 47th minute. Some sloppy defending saw Murphys clearance partly blocked but the Ramblers attacker fired his shot wide from a tight angle. A Rowe header straight at the 'keeper was Rovers first effort on goal in the second half on the hour.

The game burst into life in the 61st minute when Ryans foul was adjudged to be inside the box when it looked like the offence was outside the area. However Murphy has made a habit of saving penalties this season and he obliged again, diving to his left to save Brutons low spot-kick. The home side were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute when Murray was given a straight red card after Purcell and Falvey had clashed off the ball.

Rowe shot wide in the 69th minute before Ramblers snatched the lead when a deep free-kick wasn't dealt with by the Hoops defence and Cambridge headed into the net from the back post. This was a body blow for Rovers as the large travelling support had come to see the trophy being presented but with Dundalks game postponed, Rovers needed at least a point to take the trophy on the night.

As Rovers pushed forward O'Brien was fouled and his free-kick was initially cleared but Ryan knocked the ball back into the area for Purcell to hook the ball into the top of the net past Holden. The relief was palpable in the ground and Rovers saw out the remaining minutes with Ramblers number three Meade, sent off in the dying minutes for a late tackle.