A Sean O’Connor strike four minutes into the second-half was enough to give a makeshift Rovers team victory over the Edinburgh Hibs in an entertaining friendly in Tallaght Stadium. A brilliant point-blank save from ‘keeper Robert Duggan deep in added-on time kept the Scots scoreless but they must have been happy with their pre-season workout.
The opening 20 minutes didn’t provide much in the way of goalmouth action although McGill saw his goal bound effort blocked and the Hoops were sharp in the tackle with the visitors constantly caught offside. Madden blocked a Riordan effort in the 21st minute before Duggan raced from his line to deny Wotherspoon.
Riordan had a great chance to score after 26 minutes but a last gasp blocking tackle from Denny denied the Hibs striker a shot on goal. A fine shot by Nish from 20 yards hit the post on 30 minutes and Duggan brilliantly saved the rebound before the Ref. blew his whistle for a foul on the Rovers ‘keeper.
The visitors were playing high up in the Rovers half as the hard working Johnson done his best in midfield. The Rovers back four also soaked up the pressure but three minutes from the break Cregg connected with a cross but Wotherspoon failed to steer the ball on target.
Rovers saw more of the ball after the break and O’Connor took McGill’s pass to shoot impressively low past the Hibs ‘keeper to give Rovers the lead. The home side were comfortable and it wasn’t until the 63rd minute that Madden was called on to clear from Tallaght native Kurtis Byrne.
Byrne and fellow sub Rankin injected some pace into the Hibs attack and Byrne almost connected with Galbraith’s free-kick on 72 minutes. Rankin then fired a 25 yard free-kick just inches wide of Duggan’s post before centre-half Thicot pushed forward but shot narrowly wide.
It was deep into added-on time when a cross was defected away from Maguire and fell to Byrne but Duggan was quick to react and save the point-blank effort.
