FAI Cup - Sheriff YC 0 - 4 Shamrock Rovers
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Shamrock Rovers comfortably qualified for the 3rd round of the Ford FAI Cup after they beat Sheriff YC 4-0 at Tolka Park on Saturday evening. Goals from Gary McCabe, Ciaran Kilduff, Kieran Marty Waters and Eamon Zayed gave the Hoops victory.
Rovers took the lead in the third minute in the summer sunshine. The outstanding Roan Finn chased a long ball forward down the left hand side and pulled it back for the onrushing Gary McCabe. McCabe's beautifully struck shot found the corner of the net and gave Peter Halpin no chance.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 6th minute. Again the cross came in from the left hand side. This time Kieran Marty Waters was the provider. He picked out striker Ciaran Kilduff who headed home.
Sheriff created their first chance just a couple of minutes later. Keith Dunne's shot was blocked. The rebound fell to Stephen Larkin. Larkin struck first time from a narrow angle. His shot though was high, wide and off target.
Kilduff should have scored another one midway through the first half. Gary McCabe played the ball in behind the Sheriff defence. He found the Rovers striker who was through on goal. However he slipped at the vital moment and failed to properly threaten Halpin with his shot.
However Trevor Croly's side were not having it all their own way. Sheriff, who were wearing green and white hoops had a half chance on the half hour mark. Darren Dunne took a corner from the left. John Lester met it. His header went across the face of goal and wide.
Rover’s right back Simon Madden very nearly added a third for his side just before half time. From just inside the halfway line he made his way past three Sheriff YC players and advanced towards goal. He managed to get his shot away from a narrow angle but the ball ended up in the side netting.
The home side came close again shortly afterwards. Sheriff number 9 Keith Dunne hit a well struck left foot shoot from the edge of the area which was on target. However Craig Hyland dived low to his left to make the save.
Shamrock Rovers went 3-0 up four minutes into the second half. The away team broke on the counter attack. Gary McCabe played it to his right to Ronan Finn. Finn found Kieran Marty Waters at the back post. Waters still had a lot to do but he finished coolly from a narrow angle to put even more daylight between the sides.
Substitute Eamon Zayed added a 4th in the 64th minute. Once again Finn was involved. He picked out Waters in space on the left. The winger crossed for Zayed who eventually finished to the empty net.
Finn nearly got the goal that his performance would have deserved in the 79th minute. After he picked out Zayed, the Hoops striker played it to his right to Simon Madden. Madden pulled it back for Rover's number 21 but his first time shot just shaved the post.
Alan Reilly's team kept battling away until the end. Left back Anthony Kavanagh let fly from long distance but his effort didn't trouble Hyland in the Rovers goal. Not long after that Sheriff substitute Kevin Lynch headed just wide from about 6 yards out. Shamrock Rovers, who have won this competition 24 times, saw the game out to book their place in the third round draw.
Sheriff Y.C; Peter Halpin; Joseph Flood, Anthony Kavanagh, Joseph O'Neill; John Lester; Stephen Larkin (David Browne 46), Darren O' Brien (Stephen Murphy 65), Darren Dunne, Sean Murphy (Kevin Lynch 65); John Rock, Keith Dunne.
Subs not used; Anthony Kane, Alan McCabe.
Booked; Darren O' Brien (15), Joseph Flood (25), Darren Dunne (57)
Shamrock Rovers; Craig Hyland, Simon Madden, Connor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Robert Cornwall; Gary McCabe (Sean O' Connor 55), Shane Robinson, Ryan Brennan (Karl Sheppard 74), Ciaran Marty Waters; Ronan Finn; Ciaran Kilduff (Eamon Zayed 55).
Subs not used; Conor O ' Malley, David O' Connor, Robert Bayly, Dean Kelly.
Booked; Shane Robinson (55),
Referee; Thomas Connolly
Attendance; 759
Extratime.ie man of the match; Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers).
