Rovers  (0) 3  - Sheppard 69' Finn 72' Dennehy 82'    
U.C.D. (0) 1 - Benson 81'            
 

Airtricity League - Tallaght Stadium - Friday 22nd April 2011 

Hoops Line out
1 Alan Mannus
2 Pat Sullivan
3 Enda Stevens
17 Ken Oman
5 Dan Murray (c)
15 Paddy Kavanagh 
22 Conor McCormack
21 Ronan Finn
20 Billy Dennehy 
19 Gary O'Neill
10 Karl Sheppard

 Substitutes:    
6 Stephen Rice
for McCormack 53'
16 Ryan Thompson
14 Dean Kelly
11 Ciaran Kilduff
for Kavanagh 53' 
13 Pat Flynn
8 Colm Corcoran
for Finn 85'
23 Mick Doyle
 

Ronan Finn..on target again for the Hoops

A second half master class sealed the win for Rovers but the Students made it difficult all the way.

The Hoops started the game well and caused problems in the first 10 minutes with the best chance falling to Paddy Kavanagh as he took Finn's pass to race into the box but 'keeper Barron advanced to block.


The Students had their moments in the early stages too and Meenan shot straight at Mannus on 13 minutes and then he crossed for Robbie Creevy to head not far wide a minute later.

Sheppard's deep cross saw Kavanagh header blocked by a defender and from Dennehy's corner Sheppard saw his header saved. On 19 minutes a Sullivan ball beat Leahy in the Students defence but O'Neill saw his effort go wide of Barron's goal.

Good defending by O'Connor denied Finn's run into the box and at the other end Marshall turned in from the right to shoot low on target but Mannus made the save.

Ronan Finn was tormenting his former club and he did well in the 27th minute to almost set up O'Neill in front of goal. Gary O'Neills reverse pass sent Dennehy into the box on the left but his shot was blocked.

A quick throw-in by Dennehy saw Finn take the ball at the bye-line and find O'Neill just outside the six-yard area but he fired his shot over the bar.

The Hoops came closest to scoring in the 38th minute when Kavanagh's short corner saw Stevens cross for Sheppard to meet the ball with a glancing header that hit the Students right-hand post.

Rovers continued to attack but despite a number of half-chances the game was scoreless at half-time.

The Students had a terrific start to the second-half. Conor McCormack did well to block Graham Rusk's shot after the bounce of the ball deceived Pat Sullivan.

Marshall then had a great chance after he was released into the Hoops area on the right but he dragged his shot wide of the right-hand post. A minute later Creevy nipped between Oman and Mannus and his shot from a very tight angle was inches wide of the left-hand post.

Michael O'Neill responded by sending on Stephen Rice and Ciaran Kilduff. Kilduff saw his header from a corner blocked and then couldn't get a proper touch on the ball when Barron spilled Enda Stevens shot.

Rovers finally made the breakthrough on 69 minutes when Stevens deep cross was met by Karl Sheppard and he guided his shot low into the net.

The relief was palpable in the stadium and two minutes later Finn forced a save from Barron after Oman and Murray won headers from a corner.

A great display from Finn was rewarded on 72 minutes when he raced on to an O'Neill pass to coolly shoot past the advancing 'keeper. Rovers were well on top and Kilduff set up Sheppard on the right but he shot over.

Alan Mannus punched away a free-kick by Corry on 77 minutes and 10 minutes from time a turn and shot from O'Neill at the edge of the area went just wide.

The Students kept battling and on 81 minutes substitute Belhout ran across the box and the ball fell for his fellow sub Benson to fire an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area past Mannus into the net.

It looked like a nervy finish to the game but straight away Ronan Finn ran at the UCD defence and found Dennehy on the left and he shot past Barron and Leahy could only help his effort into the net.

Kilduff had a chance to add to the scoreline but fired off target in the 90th minute and deep into added-on time Dennehy set up O'Neill on the left but his shot went narrowly wide.