St Patricks Ath 5 Rovers 0

************* Eircom League *************
St Patricks Ath 5
Kirby 22, 56' Gibson 40',73' O'Neill 60'
Shamrock Rovers 0

Richmond Park - Friday 19th Oct 2007

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The Hoops crashed to their fourth defeat in a row when conceding five goals in Richmond Park. Although two down at the break the Hoops were still in with a chance but a dreadful second half saw St Pats inflict a painful defeat. To make matters worse Rovers picked up six yellow cards and a straight red for Eric McGill in the 67th minute.

On a calm night in Inchicore the game opened brightly and Rovers had the first real chance when Vickery found Rowe and his flick sent Shields away in the box but the Pats 'keeper advanced to block his effort. O'Connor did well to clear close to his own line from a Pats corner in the 13th minute. Rovers forced a corner in the 20th minute when Mylers header almost found McGill and Lawrence was unlucky not to get a header on goal following the corner.

The first goal came out of nothing when a long kick-out in the 22nd minute saw Kirby turn and shoot first time past a bemused Murphy. Pats were on top now and a good Lawrence tackle denied O'Neill in the 31st minute. A powerful McGill free-kick was blocked in the area on 36 minutes and a minute later Quigleys effort was blocked by O'Connor. Shields was put through again on 40 minutes but this time he was crowded out by the Pats defence. Rovers were stunned in the 40th minute when Gibson volleyed into the net from outside the box.

The Hoops made two changes at the break and started the half well. Rowe turned a defender out wide on 51 minutes but his low cross was just behind Myler. St Pats first foray into the Hoops area came on 56 minutes when Clarke was unlucky to see his blocking tackle rebound off Fahey and the Pats number eight ran on to cross for Kirby to steer the ball past Murphy. It was a blow that the Hoops never recovered from. It took a great defensive tackle by Walsh to deny Quigley on 59 minutes and a minute later Shields had a shot blocked in the box after good approach work.

The Hoops then conceded a fourth when from their own corner Quigley ran the length of the pitch to cross for the unmarked O'Neill to score at the back post. Two minutes later it took a brave diving save from Murphy to deny Kirby his hat-trick. McGill then added to Rovers woes by clashing with Quigley and receiving a straight red card. Gibson grabbed his second on 73 minutes from close range after a good passing movement but the Hoops defence were marked absent.

Ger Rowe was still trying and he turned well on 75 minutes but fired his shot over the bar. A Purcell cross in the 87th minute almost set up sub. Doyle with a chance but the Pats 'keeper got to the ball first to deny the Hoops a consolation goal.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 David Vickery
3 Robbie Clarke
4 Alan Reynolds
5 Dean Lawrence
6 Danny O'Connor
7 Chris Mulhall
8 Paul Shields
9 Andy Myler
10 Ger Rowe
11 Eric McGill


Substitutes :

13 Glen Walsh for Lawrence ht
14 David Tyrell
15 Eoin Doyle for Myler 86'
16 Karl Coleman
18 Tadhg Purcell for Mulhall ht