Radio Playlist: 20-10-2012

Playground Superstar - Happy Mondays

Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie

You Stole The Sun From My Heart - Manic Street Preachers

Rather Be - The Verve

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Greenday

The Colour Of The Earth - PJ Harvey

Two Of Us - The Beatles

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? - Boy George

Perfect - Lightning Seeds

The Passenger - Iggy Pop

Girl From Mars - Ash

Sally - Kerbdog

After The Gold Rush - Neil Young

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins

Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim

Born Slippy - Underworld

Come As You Are - Nirvana

What You Do To Me - Teenage Fanclub

Dirty Old Town - The Pogues

Psycho Killer - Talking Heads

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

I'm Outta Time - Oasis

Devils And Dust - Bruce Springsteen

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young

© Seamus Egan 2012

Brian Laws: Post Match interview.

Shamrock Rovers director of football Brian Laws was pleased with the reaction of his team after their 2-1 victory over UCD in the Airtricity Premier League at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.“ I am delighted with the reaction compared to last week, where it was a shambles. It was very disappointing.”

Rovers lost their previous game at home to Derry City and Laws believed that his side approached Friday's game in a much better way “I thought that the body language today was much better. They were very much on the front foot and had a real go and if they had produced that last week we might have had three points. It just shows you that attitude and application is vital in any game and certainly they showed that tonight.”

Laws also believes that the Hoops have underachieved this season “There are a lot of good points about this football club and there are a lot of areas that need to be improved on and one of them is on the playing park. The personnel although they have done ok, they have underachieved. They should have done better this year and certainly that is something that can be changed for next year. There will be new players coming in. You just got to make sure that this football club gets the right players and make sure they are motivated to be successful, because this club should be successful. This year has been a poor return. There is lots to work with and look forward to.”

The former Nottingham Forest player was pleased that Gary Twigg proved to be the match winner in his final home game for the club “It was great to see Twigg get a couple of goals. He should really have scored three or four. I am delighted for him that he has got a win and a couple of goals. It was a very emotional night for him.”

Laws also believes that Twigg is a natural goalscorer “One thing that is evident is that he is a natural goalscorer. He has good movement and it is no surprise that he has scored a lot of goals for the club. It doesn't matter what division you are playing in, you could be in any country in the world, it's an art to put the ball in the back of the net. It isn't an easy task but he makes it look easy at times and he is a good goalscorerer and certainly at this level you can see why he has scored a lot of goals.”

When Laws was asked if he would be at Shamrock Rovers next season he didn't rule it out  “We are talking about it and that is the positive thing. We are discussing about ways to go forward and while there is discussion there is hope.”

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 UCD

It was fitting that Gary Twigg once again proved to be the match winner for Shamrock Rovers in his final home game for the club at the Tallaght Stadium against UCD on Friday night. Twigg scored his 79^th and 80^th league goals for the club to give them a 2-1 victory against Martin Russel's side.

It was a quiet opening to the game. Both sides had plenty of possession but neither defence was really troubled. The home fans kept themselves entertained though by singing various songs in tribute to Twigg.

They had even more reason to sing his name in the 18^th minute when Rovers number 9 gave his side the lead. Billy Dennehy set it up. He raced forward from midfield and played the ball in behind the UCD defence. Twigg rounded Ger Barron and scored.

In the 20^th minute Twigg scored his 20^th league goal of the season. The goal came after Stephen Rice played a ball in behind the visitors defence. Once again Twigg stole in behind and rounded Barron before putting the ball  into the empty net.

However David McMillan pulled one back for UCD just two minute later. McMillan's goal arrived after a pass from Gary Burke on the left. UCD'S number 23 turned and hit it beautifully on the volley over the head of Oscar Jansson and into the net.

After 27 minutes it was almost 3 for Twigg and 3 for Rovers. The Scottish man headed just wide from an Aaron Greene cross. Twigg was also just a whisker away from completing his hat trick in the 38^th minute. This time McCabe crossed from the left and found the Scottish striker who volleyed just wide.

UCD started the second half impressively. In the 52^nd minute they came close to scoring again. Ciaran Nangle found Smair Belhout in space in the penalty area. Belhout had a low shot which was deflected just wide.

After 74 minutes Gary O'Neill came on to replace Gary Twigg. Twigg received a standing ovation from the crowd and a hug from Brian Laws.

Howevewr UCD were in no mood to make it easy for the home side and once again they came close to equalizing  in the 85^th minute.  David McMillan saw Oscar Jansson off his line and tried to chip him from about 25 yards out but this time Jansson got back to tip it away for a corner.

Then in the second minute of injury time the away side came close again.  The ball broke to Robbie Benson from a free kick. Benson hit a fine shot from the edge of the area and beat Jansson but the ball just shaved the post and went wide.

The home side held on for the win. After the final whistle Twigg acknowledged the home fans who constantly sang his name throughout the night and once again gave him a standing ovation. Twigg of Scotland was also giving a guard of honour by his team mates before leaving the pitch. When will they see his like again?

Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson: Pat Sullivan, Ken Oman (c), Graham Gartland, Conor Powell: Billy Dennehy, Stephen Rice, Conor McCormack, Gary McCabe, Aaron Greene: Gary Twigg (Gary O'Neill 74).

Subs not used: Reyaad Pieterse, Shane O'Connor, Craig Sives, Thomas Stewart, Sean Gannon, Gary O'Neill, Colin Hawkins.

Booked: Oscar Jansson (54), Graham Gartland (71), Billy Dennehy (72), Ken Oman (83).

Sent off: None.

UCD: Ger Barron: Hugh Douglas (Mark langtry 46), Ciaran Nangle, Michael Leahy (c), James Kavanagh: Chris Mulhall (Barry McCabe 67) Gary Burke, Paul O'Connor, Robbie Benson, Samir Belhout (Chris Lyons 60): David McMillan

Subs not used: Mark McGinley, Daniel Lewdwith, Dean Clarke, Tyrone McNelis.

Booked: Michael Leahy (46), Mark Langtry (80).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Paul Tuite.

Attendance: 2,500 (estimate).

Extratime.ie man of the match: Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers).

© Seamus Egan 2012

Shamrock Roves 2-2 Shelboune

Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne played out an eventful 2-2 draw at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday night and if it wasn’t for Craig Sive’s late intervention the visitors would have come away with all the points.

Despite the fact that Shels started the game brightly and went on the attack from the kick off, it was the home team who created the first real chance of the game in the 7^th minute. Ronan Finn crossed from the left and picked out Ciaran Kilduff who headed across goal but the ball ended up just past the post.

In the 24^th minute Rovers had a chance on the counter attack. Craig Sives played a quick ball out to Killduff. The Hoop’s number 11 played it to his left where he found the onrushing Gary McCabe. McCabe got his shot in but the effort was weak and Chris Bennion made a comfortable save.

The home side did manage to take the lead in the 27^th minute. Paddy Kavanagh gave the ball away in the Rovers half. Ronan Finn picked up possession and played it to Tommy Stewart. Stewart played a ball in behind the Shelbourne defence. Kilduff beat the offside trap and rounded the onrushing Chris Bennion before putting the ball into an empty net.

There could have been a second goal for the champions 10 minutes later. Captain Stepehen Rice played a lovely one two with the busy Kilduff before hitting an instant shot which forced Bennion to dive smartly to his left to make the save.

Stephen Kenny's side had most of the play in the first half, and while they didn't create too many clear cut chances in the opening 45 minutes, they deservedly went in a goal to the good at the break.

Shelbourne equalized out of nothing in the 52^nd minute. Similar to the opening goal, the visitors got back into the game after a mistake from their opponents. After Shamrock Rovers gave the ball away David Cassidy played a lovely reverse pass and picked out the onrushing Paddy Kavanagh who made up for his mistake in the first half by coolly slotting it past Oscar Jansson into the net.

Chances were few and far between as the second half went on. Philip Gorman had a shot for Shels which was deflected over, while Andy Boyle's back pass just went past his own post at the other end.  However in the 77^th minute the visitors scored again after another Rovers mistake. Craig Sives tried to play it forward but David Cassidy closed him down and blocked his pass. The ball broke to Philip Gorman and the Shels number 19 beautifully chipped it over Jansson to make it 2-1.

Alan Matthew's side led for just 5 minutes though. Rover’s number 7  Gary McCabe ran from his own half and passed it to the inform Ronan Finn. Finn raced towards goal and hit a right foot shot into the corner of the net to make it 2-2.

Gary O'Neill's shot was deflected into the arms of Bennion soon after but Shelbourne could have and should have won it late on. After Sean Byrne played a remarkable through ball Paddy Kavanagh was in on goal again. Kavanagh chipped it over Jansson and the ball would have gone into the net but for a brilliant and brave clearance by Craig Sives who did not have the best of games.

So an entertaining Dublin derby ended all square. Another home draw put another dent in Shamrock Rover’s title challenge, while Shelbourne will be happier with this result after losing at home to Derry in their last game. Both sides will meet again in the quarter final of the FAI Cup next Friday night in Tolka Park.

Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson, Pat Sullivan, Colin Hawkins, Craig Sives, Conor Powell: Gary McCabe, Stephen Rice (c), Ronan Finn, Killian Brennan (Aaron Greene 68): Ciaran Kilduff (Gary Twigg 75), Thomas Stewart (Gary O'Neill 86).

Subs not used: Reyaad Pieterse, Conor McCormack, Ken Oman, Kerrea Gilbert.

Booked: Gary McCabe (59), Pat Sullivan (80)

Sent off: None.

Shelbourne: Chris Bennion, Ian Ryan, Stephen Paisley, Andy Boyle, Sean Byrne: Anto Murphy (Conan Byrne 68), Glen Cronin, Stephen Hurley, David Cassidy (c) (Barry Clancy 87), Paddy Kavanagh: Philip Gorman (Philip Hughes).

Subs not used: Lorcan Fitzgerald,  Paul Skinner, Barry Clancy, Paul Byrne, Stephen Sheeran.

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 3,000 (estimate).

Man of the match: David Cassidy (Shelbourne).

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Gary Twigg: Postmatch Interview.

Shamrock Rovers striker Gary Twigg paid tribute to his team mate Tommy Stewart following his side's 2-0 victory over Cork City in the last 16 of the FAI Cup on Friday night “ We knew it was going to be difficult. They are a good side. They made it difficult but we are just happy that Tommy (Stewart) came on and got the two goals. We are delighted for him. They were his first goals since he came back. Overall it is a good night.”

Twigg was particularly complimentary about Stewart's second goal, which was scored from long range “It was a great strike. It was a great header from Hawks (Colin Hawkins) to put him into that space and he done the rest himself. I don't think any goalkeeper in the country would have saved it.”

The Scot admitted that Rovers found it difficult to break the deadlock against Tommy Dunne's side “They came and they were very rigid. They had two banks of four. They were hard to break down and the back four never really moved much. It was always going to take a long time to break them down but we knew if we were patient the time would come and fortunately Tommy took the two chances.”

The Hoops are currently 11 points behind Sligo Rovers in the league tale but the defending champions do have a game in hand on the league leaders. Twigg believes that the title race is not over yet “There are still nine games to go.  The league is far from over. There are a lot of games and there is a lot of football still to be played. We are playing well at the minute and winning games.”

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Shamrock Rovers v Cork City: Match Preview

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers will take on Cork City in an all premier league tie in the last 16 of the FAI Cup at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday night (kick off 7.05.p.m).

Rovers will come into the match having won four of their last five league and cup games.

Graham Gartland (back) and Stephen O'Donnell (hamstring) will both miss the match through injuy, while Ken Oman will not play because of suspension.  Aaron Greene has returned to full training and will be in contention to start the game.

Hoops manager Stephen Kenny is keen for his side to keep their unbeaten run going "We are keen to continue our unbeaten run and the fact that there is a quarter final place in the FAI Cup is another great incentive to win this game. We have done well recently, we've being keeping cleaning sheets and have scored good goals, and we need to keep that going.”

CORK CITY

Cork City returned to winning ways on Monday night with a 3-2 victory over Drogheda United in the league. However they will be without a number of players for various reasons for the trip to Tallaght.

John Dunleavy and Eoghan Murphy will both miss out with ankle injuries. Colin Healy (thigh strain) and Cathal Lordan (knee) and are also ruled out for City. Keith Quinn, Brian Lenihan and Graham McCarthy are all cup-tied, having featured in earlier rounds for their previous clubs. There are also doubts over Garry Buckley (foot) Neal Horgan (knee) and Gearóid Morrissey (ankle).

Despite missing a number of key players Cork City manager Tommy Dunne is looking forward to the game

“This is another great game for us, after a fantastic game against Drogheda on Monday, so we are going into this game looking for another big performance from the players. It is a tough ask for part-time players to play Monday and Friday, but we are looking forward to the game and I hope that we give a good account of ourselves and hopefully book a place in the next round.”

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

MATCH STATS

Recent Shamrock Rovers signing Shane O'Connor is a Republic of Ireland Youth and under-21 international and was at Liverpool from 2006 to 2009.

Shamrock Rovers defender Graham Gartland has three FAI Cup winners medals. He won the trophy twice with Longford Town and once with Drogheda United.

Dan Murray made 212 appearances for Cork City before signing for Shamrock Rovers, where he won two league titles. Murray returned to Leeside before the beginning of the 2012 season.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 4/7, Draw 11/4, Cork City 9/2.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Cork City.

  

Home Injury News: Graham Gartland (back) and Stephen O'Donnell (hamstring)

Home Suspension News: Ken Oman.

Away Injury News: John Dunleavy (ankle), Eoghan Murphy (ankle), Colin Healy (thigh strain) and Cathal Lordan (knee) . 

Away Suspension News: None.

© Seamus Egan 2012.