|
************* Eircom League *************
Shamrock Rovers 0
St Pats 0
Tolka Park - Mon 16th July 2007
---------------------------------------
This was a game where pre-match expectations were high, and a vocal and sizeable number of Hoops gathered in the rare summer sunshine at Tolka Park. And although the 90 minutes ultimately ended in deadlock, both sets of fans enjoyed a great contest between two clubs who are clearly in the running for this season’s Premier Division title. It was stirring stuff and the crowd eagerly lapped it up. Early pressure from Pat’s forced a succession of throw-ins near the Hoops’ penalty area without causing too much of an increase in blood pressure amongst the Hoops’ defence. Rovers sprang to life when a cross from David Cassidy on the right had Barry Ryan palming the ball away, and when it was fed back into the penalty area Tadhg Purcell forced a corner. Pats failed to get the ball away and David Cassidy was just inches wide with a shot across Ryan’s goal.
The first yellow card of the evening game Ger Rowe’s way after he up-ended Billy Gibson about ten yards into the Hoops’ half, but the resultant free kick was poor and easily dealt with by Rovers. While Pat’s attempted to build with crisp, short passes through the middle, Rovers were taking to the flanks with purpose. Dave Tyrrell and particulary David Cassidy looked sharp, but neither side side showed the necessary composure in the final third. Ger O’Brien followed Rowe into the referee’s notebook for another foul on Gibson, as a highly competitive (is there any other!) Rovers continued to press their opponents. Ger Rowe broke through on the right after 22 minutes but his cross was blocked. The resultant corner from Tyrrell was easily dealt with by Ryan. Rovers’ best chance so far followed five minutes later. David Cassidy put Ger Rowe through but the striker’s first touch left him with too much to do and as the ball bobbled at shoulder heighth he blasted harmessly over from 12 yards.
Rovers applied a fair bit of pressure near the interval, again from out wide, but the half-time whistle came with no goals in a firecely-contested first 45 minutes. After the break, the home side came out showing the greater initiative, and Rovers were now more fluid in attack, with Ger Rowe and Tadhg Purcell both looking dangerous. During this period of pressure, Rovers’ best chance fell to Tadhg Purcell, but his header was taken off the line by Stephen Brennan, who appeared to use an arm to push the ball away. Dave O’Connor replaced Tyrrell just before Pat’s broke away, but the Hoops’ backline held firm. At this stage Pat’s were adopting a more direct approach, and it allowed Rovers to respond by moving the ball around with more purpose. Eric McGill came on for Dave McGill after 62 minutes and immediately made an impact with a smart run down the left. The resultant cross was unfortunately a little too deep for Rowe at the far post and the attack broke down.
In another Pats’ attack Quigley seemed clear through on the left of the Rovers’ penalty area but the danger was quickly snuffed out. But Pat’s were making inroads, and Murphy had to save smartly from Maguire. Rovers broke immediately but Purcell couldn’t control Rowe’s cross. It was end-to-end at this stage with the game entering the final quarter, and David Cassidy was replaced by Padraig Amond. After 69 minutes Barry Murphy pulled off a stunning save to deny Quigley when a goal seemed certain. At this point Pat’s were piling on the pressure. After John Frost was deserverdly booked for a nasty foul on Rowe, the Hoops lifted the siege as both sides endeavoured to get the goal that would surely prove to be a winner in what had become a compelling contest. Danny O’Connor was booked (apparently for talking back) as the white knuckleride continued, with Rowe having moved wide on the right and Amond taking his place in attack. The youngster came close with 11 minutes remaining but his header lacked enough power and direction to really threaten Ryan. As the game went into the final ten minutes Lawrence defied Keane and then Amond fluffed a shot at the other end before Stephen Brennan was yellow-carded for a foul on Barry Ferguson. As the game careered into added time the Hoops poured forward but to no avail and the game ended scoreless. A point won or two lost? We need calmer moments for analysis. After a cracking game that had everything bar goals, it was satisfying to bask, almost breathless, in the Tolka Park twilight knowing we’d witnessed two fine teams giving it their all in a splendid advertisement for the eircom League. Roll on Sligo!
Line-Out
1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O’Brien
3 Derek Pender
4 Dean Lawrence
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Danny O’Connor
7 David Cassidy
8 Eric McGill
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Ger Rowe
11 Dave Tyrrell
Substitutes :
Substitutes: 13 Dave McGill for E McGill 62’
14 Dave O’Connor for Tyrrell 54’
15 Padraig Amond for Cassidy 67’
16 John McGuinness
17 Andy Myler
|
