Drogheda Utd 0 Rovers 3

*********** Eircom League Cup ***********
Drogheda Utd. 0

Shamrock Rovers 3
Myler 30' 68' Cassidy 36'
United Park - Tuesday 8th May 2007

Andy Myler notched two goals for the Hoops tonight - picture by George Kelly

The Boynesiders had the Setanta Cup Final in mind when fielding a virtual reserve side in this League Cup second round game. The Hoops however took full advantage to progress to the next round. Wayne Colbert had the first chance after just two minutes but his shot was blocked for a corner. Just five minutes later some good work from Dave O'Connor saw Colbert shoot weakly wide. Aiden Price headed straight at the home 'keeper on 16 minutes before Purcell linked up well with O'Brien in the box but his cross was cleared.

Barry Murphy was called into action in the 26th minute when diving to his right to save a long range shot. Rovers finally got off the mark in the 30th minute when Purcells header found Duffy in space and his back post cross was headed into the net by Myler. The Hoops started to create chances with Purcell and Myler having decent efforts before Myler found Ferguson in front of goal from a corner but the Rovers defender couldn't direct his header on goal.

Murphy had to be alert at the other end as Timmons almost scored with a near post header. Just a minute later some fine work from Purcell saw the Hoops attacker cross for the in-rushing Cassidy to stoop low to score the second. A succession of chances came the Hoops way with Dave O'Connor shooting narrowly wide before a Cassidy shot took a delection that went just over. In the last minute the home 'keeper Byrne did well to block Purcells shot with his legs and Duffy crashed his effort off the base of the post from a tight angle. Purcell then forced the 'keeper into another save right on the whistle.

The home side had two great chances to get back into the game within ten minutes of the restart. Firstly Timmons clipped the cross-bar with a good header before the Drogs number thirteen smashed a shot against the cross-bar from just inside the box. A Duffy header from point blank range produced a fine save from Byrne in the 58th minute.

The contest was over on 68 minutes when Myler peeled away from his marker to send a glancing header from a corner into the net. A mix-up between Ferguson and Murphy in the 75th minute almost let the home side in but the ball was forced wide. A Cassidy free-kick in the 83rd minute saw Byrne make a fine finger-tip save. The last chance of the game fell to Dave O'Connor but he couldn't direct his shot on target from a Lawrence cross.

Dave Cassidy scores the second from Purcells fine cross - picture by George Kelly

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Dan O'Connor
3 Ger O'Brien
4 Aiden Price
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Ian Ryan
7 Jamie Duffy
8 Tadhg Purcell
9 Andy Myler
10 Wayne Colbert
11 Dave O'Connor


Substitutes :

13 Dean Lawrence for O'Brien 73'
14 Dave Cassidy for Colbert 27'
15 Dave McGill
16 Stephen O'Brien 17 Ciaran Kilduff for Purcell 73'