Rovers 2 UCD 0

************* Eircom League *************
Shamrock Rovers 2
Rowe 54' Purcell 70'

U.C.D. 0

Tolka Park - Mon 16th July 2007

---------------------------------------

In bright sunshine at Tolka Park Rovers took on UCD, with the line-up showing some changes - Danny O'Connor started at centre-half, this possibly to counter the physical strength of UCD's front two. This allowed Alan Reynolds to start in central midfield and himself and Dave McGill were involved in the early stages as UCD started well. Neither side created a clear opportunity until the 10th minute when Ger Rowe crossed from the right and found Purcell who, under pressure from his marker, miscued the header. John Martin was in good form on the right wing and an exchange of passes with Ger Rowe got Martin to the endline but his cross was cleared.

Ger Rowe then had a shot blocked after a Tyrrell run through the middle set him up. Rovers were enjoying a good spell in the game now, and continued to press, with Dave McGill playing well in the middle of the park. A pass from McGill to Ger Rowe was knocked down to Tyrrell, but his shot flew over the bar. On the half-hour Barry Murphy was forced to save smartly after a stray pass gave UCD centre-forward Byrne a chance to shoot. UCD then created another good chance with the right winger getting forward but his shot went narrowly wide. Rovers came back into the game and played the next 5 minutes in the UCD half, with John Martin and Dave McGill prominent. Right on half-time the UCD right winger again got to the endline, cut the ball back but Barry Murphy saved.

EriC McGill and Dean Lawrence came on for Rovers early in the second half, Lawrence moving into defence to allow Danny O'Connor move to midfield. In the 54th minute a Dave McGill pass to Tadhg Purcell was blocked for a corner. David Tyrrell' delivery found Rowe unmarked and he headed to the net to give Rovers the lead. UCD almost got level in the 65th minute when Forsyth cut inside the defence to make a chance for himself but Murphy advanced to block the striker's effort and the ball was cleared. The keeper was called on again a minute later when he rose high to make a great catch. in the 70th minute Dave McGill got past his marker and crossed for Purcell to finish.

From then on Rovers sought to close out the game, with only one more clear-cut chance coming UCD's way, when Dean Lawrence's well-timed challenge in the penalty area put the ball out for a corner, which was then headed over.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Derek Pender
4 Dan O'Connor
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Alan Reynolds
7 John Martin
8 Dave McGill
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Ger Rowe
11 David Tyrrell


Substitutes :

13 John McGuinness
14 Dean Lawrence for Reynolds 52'
15 Andy Myler for Purcell 73'
16 Eric McGill for Martin 48'
17 Padraig Amond