Waterford Utd 0 Rovers 2

************* Eircom League *************
Waterford Utd. 0

Shamrock Rovers 2
Myler 22', 86'

R.S.C. - Friday 10th Aug 2007

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Pat Scully made some changes from Tuesday nights line-up as the Hoops delivered the perfect riposte to the midweek exit from the League Cup to take all three points from the RSC tonight thanks to a fine first half and a battling performance in the second as the home side exerted pressure on the Hoops defence.

There was some good early running from Padraig Amond and Dave Cassidy as Rovers took the game to their hosts. After Barry Murphy dealt with a header across goal in the 13th minute it was Rovers turn to attack when Delaney saved Mylers diving header from Tyrells cross. A minute later Amond slipped the ball through to Myler but the advancing Delaney done enough to block his effort. Myler returned the compliment to Amond after 19 minutes with a header but the Carlow man dragged his shot wide under pressure.

Myler and Amond were working well together and Amond was almost sent through on goal on 21 minutes but a fine tackle denied him. Rovers needed to score while on top and the goal duly arrived in the 22nd minute when O'Brien crossed for Amond to flick the ball on at the second attempt as he lay on the ground for Myler to poke home from close range.

Debutant Owen Doyle then headed wide from a Tyrell corner in the 25th minute before an O'Brien cross was almost met at the near post by Amond. The Hoops had a let-off in the 30th minute when the unmarked Kiely headed wide from close range. However seven minutes later the visitors goal led a charmed life as Murphy fumbled a free-kick and the ensuing scramble in the box saw the ball head for the Hoops goal only for Cassidy to intervene to somehow clear off the line. Doyle had the last chance of the half when he burst into the box but saw Delaney parry away his shot.

The second half saw the home side push on looking for the equaliser. A great defensive header by Ferguson in the 51st minute was followed by O'Connor blocking a shot from the edge of the box. Ferguson and Murphy got their wires crossed in the 61st minute to let the home sides number 12 in to shoot but O'Brien was alert to the danger to clear. Delaney won the chase to the ball with Rowe in the 65th minute but overall the Hoops were not holding on to the ball like they did in the first period. A deflected shot off Sullivan luckily fell into Murphys arms on 70 minutes while a minute later the Hoops number one had to dive to his right to push away a header from a corner.

The Hoops were looking tired as O'Connor blocked another shot in the box but at the other end Cassidys shot was deflected off Rowe in the 77th minute but went just over. Murphy then got down well to hold a shot from the edge of the area. Delaney was quick off his line as Cassidy chased down a through ball in the 81st minute but the game was finally wrapped up for the Hoops five minutes later.

Stand in full-back Dave Tyrell intercepted a cross field pass and pushed forward where he linked up with Rowe to send in a fine cross that Myler hit first time against the cross-bar but followed up to poke the ball home to claim his second goal. Rovers comfortably played out the remaining minutes to claim all three points and second place in the table.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O’Brien
3 Dave Tyrell
4 Alan Reynolds
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Danny O’Connor
7 David Cassidy
8 Eric McGill
9 Padraig Amond
10 Andy Myler
11 Owen Doyle


Substitutes :

13 Dean Lawrence
14 Paul Shields for Reynolds 71'
15 Tadhg Purcell for Doyle 58'
16 Stephen O'Brien
17 Ger Rowe for Amond 59'