Cork City 0 Rovers 0

******* Eircom League Premier Division *******
Cork City 0

Shamrock Rovers 0

Turners Cross - Friday 13th April 2007

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A large crowd gathered at Turners Cross to see the return of the Hoops against an in-form Cork side. Rovers started well and a free-kick in the 5th minute found Colbert at the back post and his knock back was met by Barrett but Devine comfortably saved. Barry Murphy produced a fine save from a low driven shot by Kearney in the 10th minute. Ferguson found the lively Rowe a minute later and the Hoops number ten forced Devine to save his deflected shot.

A great defensive header from Ryan in the 16th minute and a great punch away from the resultant corner by Murphy kept the home side scoreless. O'Donovan showed his class when he got past Ryan into the box after 25 minutes but Murphy was equal to his shot. A Rowe snap shot from Devines weak clearance on the half-hour wasn't far off the target. Rowe showed his experience a minute later when he found space for himself in midfield but he just failed to send Colbert in behind the home defence. The Hoops easily contained the home threat for the remainder of the 'half and forced a late corner that Devine took well.

Rovers best chance of the game came when Rowe got behind the Cork rearguard in the 53rd minute and his attempted lob over Devine hit the top of the net. Ger O'Brien then blocked a volley from Kearney in the box before Rowe shot over the bar from the edge of the area on the hour.

O'Donovan didn't connect properly when he met a cross in front of goal in the 64th minute. A good run by substitute Cassidy a minute later stretched the home defence and Myler and Rowe combined a couple of minutes later but Rowes effort was blocked.

The home side gradually got back on top and Murphy raced from his line to block Kearneys cross in the 72nd minute. The home side spurned a great chance in the 79th minute when O'Donovan hesitated when well placed in the box and the Rovers defence cleared.

Murphy made a fabulous catch under pressure in the 82nd minute as the Home side piled on the pressure. Behan got in behind Ryan a minute later but Murphy was quick off his line to block his shot. In the 87th minute O'Brien made a fine defensive header to concede a corner and Behan rose to head powerfully towards goal from the resultant kick but O'Brien was on hand to clear off his line. There was more drama for the Hoops defence as the game entered added-on time when Behan again had a headed effort cleared on the line by a combination of Murphy and O'Brien. Murphy then couldn't hold another deep cross in the dying seconds but fortunately Ferguson was on hand to clear as Rovers survived tha late onslaught to earn a credible point.

Line-Out

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


Substitutes :

13 Danny O'Connor for Barrett 74'
14 Dave Cassidy for Pender ht
15 Jamie Duffy
16 John Perkins
17 Andy Myler for Colbert 54'