St Patricks Ath. (0) 0
Rovers (1) 1 - Amond 40' 

EA Sports Cup - Richmond Park - Monday 4th May 2009

1 Barry Murphy 
10 Pat Flynn
4 Daragh Maguire
5 Aiden Price
14 Ollie Cahill
10 Stephen Bradley
8 Stephen Rice
17 Greg Cameron
21 Padraig Amond
22 Tadhg Purcell
11 Sean O'Connor 

Subs
23 Karl Coleman
7 Shane Robinson
for Cameron 69' 
9 Gary Twigg
for Purcell 75'
13 Eric McGill
for Bradley 81'
19 Eoin Doyle 

Padraig Amond's goal just five mins from the end of the first-half was enough to see the Hoops safely through to the next round of the EA Sports Cup in a game of few chances.

Rovers had the bulk of the play in the first-half and Stephen Rice's long throw-in after 10 mins saw Maguire flick the ball on for Purcell to head towards goal but Clarke saved. Rice then almost put Purcell in on goal but Clark advanced to clear. After 21 mins a Bradley corner was met by Price and his header was cleared back to Bradley who crossed again and found Maguire but his header went over the bar. Padraig Amond then tested the home 'keeper with a fine shot but Clarke dived to his left to push the ball away.

The home sides first real effort on goal came after 27 mins and Murphy was relieved to see the shot go past his right hand post. O'Connor met Bradley's cross on 30 mins but his header was weak. Five mins later Rice's quick free-kick found Bradley and his cross was well defended as Amond threatened. However the Carlow sportsman of the year was not to be denied in the 40th minute when Price's ball over the top caused hesitancy in the Pats defence and Amond took advantage to flick the ball over Clarke and into the net.

The second-half saw the home-side come into the game more and Guy had a good chance in front of goal after 53 mins but he hooked his shot well wide. Pat Flynn made a fine defensive header four mins later to clear a dangerous cross. There was 73 mins on the clock when the Saints created another opening and this time Ryan blasted high and over from an angle following a through ball over Flynn's head.

Rovers didn't create many chances in the second-half but substitute Twigg glanced a header into Clark's arms from O'Connors cross. With four mins remaining Ollie Cahill was called upon to take the ball off Quigley just eight yards out to deny the Pats striker a shot on goal. Twigg shot straight at Clark in the 86th min. and although the home side forced a late corner Barry Murphy was on hand to claim the ball.

The game ended on a sour note for Rovers when Sean O'Connor was stretchered off in added-on time.