League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 UCD

Second half strikes from Ronan Finn and Ryan Brennan gave Shamrock Rovers a deserved 2-0 victory over UCD at Tallaght Stadium on Monday night.

The home side created the first chance of the match in the 4^th minute. Simon Madden, who once again was very involved in an attacking sense, crossed from the right. He picked out Ciaran Kilduff at the back post. The Rovers striker, who managed to win a lot of headers throughout, rose highest but headed wide.

UCD created their first chance of the game in the 9^th minute. Robbie Benson played a lovely ball to his left to Dean Clarke. Clarke got away from Madden and managed to get a shot on target from a narrow angle but it didn't have enough power to trouble Barry Murphy.

Just a minute later, Ronan Finn tried a typical long range effort from about 25 yards out. It managed to beat Conor O'Donnell but came back off the crossbar.

The Hoops hit the woodwork again in the 28^th minute. After neat build up play involving McCabe and Madden, Sean O'Connor let fly with his left foot from outside the area. His effort struck the foot of the post. Moments later Madden's cross from the right picked out Kilduff again. He headed it onto the path of Finn but the Shamrock Rovers midfielder could only shoot over from close range.

Believe it or not the home side hit the woodwork for the third time in the 36^th minute. After Luke Byrne crossed from the left, Kilduff and McCabe were both involved before the ball broke to Gary McCabe. The winger's first time shot hit the post before he found the side netting with the rebound.

Rovers kept knocking on the door and they continued to dominate for the remainder of the half. Four minutes before the interval, McCabe's corner found Jason McGuinness. The centre back's header looked destined for the bottom corner of the net but O'Donnell dived low to his left and made a brilliant save to keep it out.

UCD started the second half better and came close to scoring themselves shortly after the restart. Robbie Benson played a neat pass to Chris Mulhall who tried a shot with the outside of his foot which Murphy did well to hold onto.

However Rovers eventually weathered that storm. They took the lead in the 57^th minute and it was all a little bit too easy from UCD's point of view. Ronan Finn strode forward unchallenged from deep and shot from the edge of the area.  O'Donnell managed to get his hand to it but there was too much power in the shot and the ball ended up in the net.

Just a couple of minutes later Finn broke into the area. He played it back to Ryan Brennan. Brennan's shot was blocked but it fell to McCabe who looked destined to score but O'Donnell denied him with another excellent save.

Finn produced another bit of magic midway through the half. He made his way into the area and chipped a beautiful cross onto the head of Kilduff. However the Rovers number 31 could only head it over the top.

Ryan Brennan managed to make sure of the points five minutes form the end of normal time. Stephen McPhail played it to Gary McCabe. McCabe's back heel found Brennan who hit a brilliant shot from long range which found the top corner.

Trevor Croly's team managed to see out the final few minutes. The result means that they have managed to bounce back from last Friday night's 3-0 defeat in Cork as they look to mount a title challenge.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna (c), Jason McGuinness, Luke Byrne; Gary McCabe (Karl Sheppard 88), Ryan Brennan, Ronan Finn (Robert Bayly 88), Stephen McPhail, Sean O'Connor (Kieran Marty Waters 78); Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Craig Hyland (gk), Robert Cornwall, Eamon Zayed, Dean Kelly.

Booked: L Byrne (82).

UCD: Conor O'Donnell; Michael Barker, Hugh Douglas, Tomas Boyle, Gareth Matthews; Chris Mulhall  (Thomas O'Halloran 76), Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson (c), Dean Clarke (Samir Belhout 79), Gary Burke (James Kavanagh 68); Cillian Morrison.
Subs not used: Mark McGinley (gk),  Michael Scott, Dwayne Wilson, Colm Crowe.

Booked: Mulhall (58).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,771 

Extratime.ie man of the match: Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers).