Futsal final - Rovers 4:1 Santos

Rovers' futsal team beat Santos 4-1 with goals from Ian Byrne and a Philip McDonagh hat-trick at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght tonight to retain their Emerald Futsal League (Leinster) title. Well done lads!

A hat-trick by Philip McDonagh sealed the win after skipper Ian Byrne had put the Hoops ahead after seven minutes.
 
Irish futsal international Byrne produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock when he dribbled in from the left, cleverly beat the last man then poked past Santos keeper Thiago Tedros.
 
Fellow Ireland squad member McDonagh extended that lead in the 14th minute when he took a quick free-kick and played a one-two with Badr Bouznig before slotting past the exposed Tedros.
 
Byrne hit the crossbar two minutes later as Rovers looked to hammer home their advantage. McDonagh also clipped the crossbar with a powerful strike after good work by Brendan Dawson.
 
McDonagh made it 3-0 midway through the second half when he fired home with a low strike after Jack Doyle did well to keep the ball in play down the right.
 
An untypical defensive error handed Santos a lifeline with three minutes left. Mairon Silva producing a brilliant finish to beat John Somers in the Rovers goal after the Santos hitman intercepted a poor clearance.
 
McDonagh had the sizeable crowd - including Rovers mascot Hooperman - on its feet in the last minute when he robbed Tedros and raced through to stroke into an empty net to make it two titles in a row for the Hoops.
 
"It was an excellent performance from start to finish. Santos had caused a major upset in beating Sporting Fingal EID in the semi-finals but we were on our game and after losing just once in 25 competitive games the lads deserved to get their hands on the cup again," said Rovers manager Stephen Finn.
 
SHAMROCK ROVERS: John Somers; Vinicius Terco, Ian Byrne, Badr Bouznig, Philip McDonagh; Brendan Dawson, Jack Doyle, Cian McDonald, Hiago Freitas, Alvin Lawlor, John Fullam, Richard Maher. Squad members: Glen Somers, Stephen McCormack, Reinaldo Grube, Alan Lynch.

To see highlights of the win click here.