Rovers 1 Dundalk 0

*********** Eircom League Cup ***********

Shamrock Rovers 1
Colbert 60'
Dundalk 0

Tolka Park - Monday 9th April 2007

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A tough physical encounter in Tolka Park this evening saw the Hoops progress to the next round of the League Cup. While there was plenty of effort there was a lack of goalmouth action especially early in the game. Ger Rowes volley into the net on 8 minutes was flagged offside while Jamie Duffy fired over the bar on 15 minutes. Duffy scooped a cross over the 'keeper 4 minutes later but O'Connor couldn't deliver the ball back into the danger area. The Dundalk 'keeper then pushed away an Eric McGill free-kick from 20 yards.

Barry Murphy was called into the action on 30 minutes to punch away a good corner and then save from a follow up shot. Rovers best chance of the half came in the 33rd minute when Rowe brilliantly controlled the ball in the box but he placed his shot wide of the post. Murphy made a good catch from a cross on the blow for half time.

Ian Ryan had to leave the pitch early in the second period as he never really recovered from a clash of heads with Trevor Vaughan in the first half. His substitute Barrett then headed straight at the 'keeper from a Dave McGill free kick. In the 56th minute the Dundalk number five headed over from a free kick. Two minutes later some great work by Rowe saw him cross for Colbert in front of goal but a defender got back just on time to nick the ball away.

However Rovers opened the scoring on the hour when Eric McGill sent Duffy away down the right and his low cross was flicked into the net by Colbert at the near post. The visitors hit back straight away with Murphy having to tip over a cross from under the bar. Murphy then punched away the corner under pressure and some sloppy defending saw Dundalk force the ball into the Hoops net but the linesman had flagged for offside.

Cathal O'Connor shot over the Hoops goal from inside the area on 70 minutes. Barrett then missed the target with a header before a deep Duffy cross was well defended in the 78th minute. Although the Lilywhites pushed men forward in the late stages of the game it was Rovers who had the best chance to score as O'Connor crashed a shot off the cross bar in the dying minutes just after Colbert was denied a penalty when he was bundled over in the box after Rowe had set him up.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Robbie Clarke
4 Barry Ferguson
5 Ian Ryan
6 Dave McGill
7 Jamie Duffy
8 Eric McGill
9 Wayne Colbert
10 Ger Rowe
11 Dave O'Connor


Substitutes :

13 Derek Pender for O'Brien 65'
14 Dave Cassidy for E McGill 68'
15 Tommy Barrett for Ryan 48'
16 Stephen O'Brien 17 Robbie Kelleher