Shamrock Rovers qualified for the third round of
the FAI cup on Friday night after a 68th minute goal from substitute
Stephen O'Donnell gave them a hard fought victory over Limerick FC. However
Limerick will feel aggrieved not to have been given a second half penalty.
It was an even opening half in the Tallaght
Stadium. However it was the visitors who started the better and in the 5th
minute they nearly took the lead. Shane Treacy took a left footed corner from
the right. After a goalmouth scramble the ball broke to Rory Gaffney. Gaffney's
goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Conor Powell.
Rovers began to get into the game soon after and
they had their first chance in the 13th minute. Billy Dennehy played
it to Gary McCabe on the left. McCabe's perfect cross picked out the unmarked
Craig Sives. The Rovers defender rose and headed goalwards but his effort just
shaved the post.
Stephen Kenny's side should have taken the lead in
the 18th minute. Gary Twigg played a lovely ball in behind the
Limerick defence. He found McCabe on the right. McCabe put in another lovely
cross and he found Rovers striker Gary O'Neill six yards out. O'Neill seemed
destined to score but he somehow volleyed it over.
Limerick and Gaffney had another chance in the 36th
minute. The blues number 19 with the red hair stole the ball from Killian Brennan
and hit it first time from about 20 yards out but Oscar Jansson dived low to
his right to parry the ball to safety.
Just a minute later Gary Twig played in the busy
McCabe on the right but the Hoops number seven shot straight at Barry Ryan in
the Limerick goal.
Limerick should have been awarded a penalty in the
49th minute. Captain Pat Purcell flicked the ball on and Killian
Brennan handled in the area. Limerick manager Pat Scully was incensed that
referee Anthony Buttimer did not give the blues a spot kick.
In the 63rd minute Stephen Rice picked
out McCabe on the right. McCabe put in another fine cross. This time he found
Billy Dennehy at the back post but the Kerry man could not steer his header
goalwards.
The home team took the lead in the 68th
minute. Two of the Rovers substitutes were involved in the goal. Daryl Kavanagh
struck a fine shot from the edge of the Limerick area. Limerick goalkeeper Ryan
dived low to his right but could only parry the ball out to the onrushing
Stephen O'Donnell and O'Donnell who replaced Killian Brennan was there to tap
it home.
Worse was to follow for Limerick soon after.
Paudie Quinn who had just come on for James McGrath was shown a straight red by
referee Anthony Buttimer for a high tackle on Kerrea Gilbert in the 76th
minute.
After Stephen O'Donnell gave away the ball in the
89th minute, Stephen Bradley tried his luck from 30 yards out but
the ball did not dip in time and went just over the crossbar.
Rovers should have scored a second on the counter
attack in the 93rd minute. Craig Sives played it through to
Kavanagh. Kavanagh raced towards goal but instead of shooting played the ball
back to Gary twigg. Twigg tried a bicycle kick but his effort was off target.
The home side held on for a slender victory but
Limerick will be left to wonder what might have been after being denied a clear penalty.
Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson; Kerrea Gilbert, Craig Sives, Graham Gartland, Conor
Powell; Gary McCabe (Conor McCormack 93), Stephen Rice, Killian Brennan
(Stephen O'Donnell 61), Billy Dennehy; Gary O'Neill (Daryl Kavanagh 54), Gary
Twigg (captain).
Subs not used: Reyaad
Pieterse, Aaron Greene, Colin Hawkins, Ronan Finn.
Booked: Killian Brennan
(22), Stephen Rice (45), Graham Gartland (48), Daryl Kavanagh (85)
Sent-off: None.
Limerick FC: Barry
Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Paddy Purcell (captain), Shane Guthrie (Colin Daly 83),
Shane Treacy; Corie Treacy, David
O’Leary, Steve McGann, James McGrath (Paudie Quinn 75); Garbhin Coughlan
(Stephen Bradley 68), Rory Gaffney.
Subs not used: Shane
Cusack, Andrew Cowpar, Alex Scully, Anto
O'Donnell.
Booked: Steve McGann
(24), Corie Treacy (29), Stephen Bradley (68), Pat Purcell (74)
Sent-off: Paudie Quinn (76)
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Attendance: 1,300
estimate.
Man of the match: Gary McCabe (Shamrock Rovers).
© Seamus Egan 2012.
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