Shamrock Rovers 7 - 0 Bray Wanderers

Shamrock Rovers found their shooting boots in style with a crushing 7-0 win over struggling Bray Wanderers at a rainy Tallaght Stadium on Friday night. Rovers’ goals came from Danny Ledwith, Ciaran Kilduff, a double from Ronan Finn, Mark Quigley and a brace from James Chambers in a result which will greatly please their under fire boss Trevor Croly.

The Hoops, looking to end a run of successive one-one draws, started brightly with Ciaran Kilduff laying down Ken Oman's long ball to the onrushing Mark Quigley but his shot could not find the target.

Rovers fluid start continued and on six minutes a tame cross from Sean O'Connor was only partially cleared by Gary Dempsey. The ball fell to Danny Ledwith and the former UCD man stroked his shot past Darren Quigley to open the scoring for the Hoops.

The one way traffic continued as Ledwith's dangerous cross was met by the head of Kilduff, he headed goal wards, but Quigley was equal to it, a fantastic stop from the Seasiders keeper. With 17 minutes gone, Kilduff was once again the provider. His raking pass found Ledwith whose volley whistled past the upright with Quigley beaten.

Bray did have a chance through Kieran Waters but his shot was straight at Barry Murphy. The game went into a lull after that with Shamrock Rovers happy to retain possession, probing the Bray defensive line. They found that opening on 37 minutes. A long ball forward was met by Kilduff, he battled his way through three Wanderers defenders, before unleashing a powerful strike to beat Quigley and extend the Hoops lead.

In first-half injury time, Ledwith's cross was headed back into the box by O'Connor. Ronan Finn picked up the ball and calmly slotted the ball past a helpless Quigley.

The second period started slowly, with the only half chance coming the way of Derek Foran, who volleyed wide from an O'Connor corner. Bray looked for a change with striker Shane O'Neill replacing defender Kevin Knight on 53 minutes. O'Neill almost brought the visitors back into the game, his shot nearly beat the onrushing Murphy, however the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball and divert it wide.

With the game approaching the hour-mark, Rovers stepped it up a gear once again. O'Connor picked out Finn at the edge of the box from a corner, but unlike Gabriel Sava last week, Quigley was equal to the attempt.

Ledwith, displayed his crossing prowess again, this time crossing for Quigley, who headed over. Just moments later, Ledwith again crossing for Quigley but this time the ex-Sligo frontman found the target with his header. 4-0 to the Hoops.

On 77 minutes, a corner from O'Connor was cleared to Finn. He played the ball to James Chambers who calmly chipped the ball up and volleyed home for Rovers fifth of the evening.With ten minutes remaining, Ciaran Kilduff won a free kick at the edge of the area. Chambers stepped up to the plate to fire home his second and Rovers sixth of the game.

With the fourth official signalling for three additional minutes, Bray almost grabbed a consolation, Kieran Waters effort tipped over by Murphy.

In the second minute of added time, the Hoops added a seventh, Ronan Finn converting from the penalty spot after O'Connor was hacked down. That signalled an end to proceedings on a dismal night for Wanderers.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Pat Sullivan (Stephen Rice 77), Ken Oman, Derek Foran, Conor Powell; Danny Ledwith (Billy Dennehy 70), Ronan Finn, James Chambers, Sean O'Connor; Mark Quigley, Ciaran Kilduff (Karl Sheppard 85).
Subs not used: Richard Brush (GK), Shane Robinson, Conor McCormack, Gary McCabe.

Bookings: Sullivan (61).

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Conor Earley, David Webster, Peter Thomas, Kevin Knight (Shane O'Neill 53); Daire Doyle (Paul Moffatt 85), Gary Dempsey, Dean Zambra, Kieran Marty Waters, John Mulroy; Jason Byrne (Ismahil Akinade 85).
Subs not used: Sean Holmes (GK), Danny O'Connor, Danny Joyce, Paul Malone.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 2,500 (estimate)

Extratime Man of the Match:  Danny Ledwith (Shamrock Rovers).