Rovers (2) 4 - Sheppard 23' Kilduff 42' Dennehy pen. 70' O'Neill 81'
Drogheda Utd (0) 0 -           
 

Airtricity League - Tallaght Stadium - Sunday 2nd October 2011

Hoops Line out
1 Richard Brush
2 Pat Sullivan
4 Craig Sives  
5 Dan Murray (c)
3 Enda Stevens
22 Conor McCormack
17 Jim Paterson
18 Chris Turner
14 Rohan Ricketts
11 Ciaran Kilduff
10 Karl Sheppard

Substitutes
20 Billy Dennehy
for Sives ht
19 Gary O'Neill
for Sheppard 71'
21 Ronan Finn
for McCormack 77'
9 Gary Twigg
8 Stephen O'Donnell
16 Craig Hyland
6 Stephen Rice

The Hoops kept focussed on this league game after Thursdays endeavours and two goals in each half saw off the challenge of a well organised Drogheda side.

Rovers started well with Rohan Ricketts turning his marker after just 4 minutes and his cross needed the intervention of Drogheda Captain Dave Rogers to deny Ciaran Kilduff a header on goal. A minute later Ricketts slipped a ball for Sheppard in the box but ‘keeper Trimble pushed away his shot.

The Drogs created an opening after 9 minutes when Brennan crossed into the box and it took a fine blocking tackle from Enda Stevens to deny Fitzgerald a shot on goal.

On 13 minutes Chris Turner burst into the Drogs box but his low cross was cleared. Sheppard then headed over a Ricketts corner. A dangerous free-kick from Paterson was punched away by Trimble on 21 minutes but two minutes later the ‘keeper failed to connect with a Ricketts corner from the left and Sheppard had the easy task of directing his header into the net.

Peter McMahon tried his luck from distance for the Drogs on 27 minutes but his effort was saved by Brush. The Hoops should have extended their lead on 29 minutes when Turner played Sheppard behind the defence on the right and his low cross beat Trimble but Kilduff couldn’t get the decisive touch.

On 38 minutes a fine sweeping ball from Dan Murray was taken first time by Patersen and he delivered a fine cross into the danger area, ’keeper Trimble punched the ball away but Conor McCormack pounced to fire in a shot that was deflected over the bar.

The Hoops finally got their second when Sheppard found Kilduff just outside the area and he duly rounded a defender and then the advancing ’keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Trimble then denied Sheppard with a fine save from a shot inside the box and McCormack’s follow-up shot was also saved by the Drogs ’keeper.

The second-half started slowly but Drogs substitute Quigley fired in a fine shot from 25 yards that luckily was straight at Brush. On 50 minutes a cross from Paterson saw Turner get his head to the ball but Trimble saved at this near post.

Chris Turner then headed over in front of goal from Sheppard’s cross before Trimble was on hand again to save this time beating away Ricketts shot.

Brennan was always a threat for the Drogs and Stevens did well to clear his dangerous cross in the 58th minute. A good interchange of passes between Kilduff and Dennehy set up Ricketts but defender Hand got the vital block to the ball.

Rovers continued to dominate and when Sullivan found Kilduff he turned into the box only to see Trimble save his effort. Brennan set-up McMahon to shoot for the visitors but Brush got down well to save.

On 70 minutes Turner burst into the box on the left and Trimble dived full length to tip the ball away for a corner and from the kick Ciaran Kilduff was fouled in the area and Ref. Connolly pointed to the spot.

Billy Dennehy stepped up and smashed his shot into the top of the net.

The Louth men thought they had grabbed a consolation in the 73rd minute when Lynch crossed to the back post for Corcoran to prod the ball home but the Linesman flagged for an offside.

On 81 minutes the Hoops wrapped up the game when Sullivan found Dennehy on the right and he crossed to substitute Gary O’Neill who turned and shot into the corner of the  net.

Turner forced Trimble into another fine save with a curling shot with 5 minutes remaining before O’Neill set-up Dennehy on the right-hand side of the area but he shot across goal.

Enda Stevens connected with Sullivan’s deep cross to the back post but couldn’t keep the ball down before a late chance for the Drogs saw Corcoran drag his shot wide of the Hoops goal.