League Report: Limerick 0 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

By Macdara Ferris at Markets Field

Having won back-to-back home cup games last week, Rovers won their first league game in three with a 2-0 win over Limerick at the Markets Field.

They shut out the Super Blues who have failed to score now in their last four games. Goals either side of half time by David McAllister and Ronan Finn move Rovers to within five points of third place Derry City.

Rovers reverted to a flat back four after going with three at the back against Glenville in the FAI Cup on Friday night.

With their ongoing defensive injury problems, Trevor Clarke dropped back into the left back position in Stephen Bradley’s starting XI.

Neil McDonald, meanwhile, dropped his team’s top scorer Rodrigi Tosi who amongst his ten goals counts the late equaliser in Tallaght the last time the sides met.

Within 20 seconds Dean Clarke nearly put the home side up against his former club with a shot over the bar after the Super Blues won the ball quickly from Rovers’ kick off.

Limerick kept the Hoops at distance with Rovers reduced to shots from long range but Brendan Clarke still needed to be alert. David Webster and James Doona, who went particularly close, were off target for Rovers.

The Hoops worked their first corner short from Ryan Connolly, who was playing in a more advanced role for Rovers behind Gary Shaw with Graham Burke suspended.

Miele’s deflected shot came to David McAllister and he had two efforts on goal but Clarke saved the first and then David O’Connor blocked for the Blues to clear.

20 minutes in Simon Madden won a free kick which he played into the box for Webster to head over. The closest the Blues came to scoring was a fine effort from Lee J-Lynch that required Tomer Chencinski to bat away the ball as it dipped through the air.

The Blues have struggled to defend set pieces this season and those defensive lapses in concentration once again cost them. The Hoops took the lead four minutes from the break after Madden got around the back of the Limerick defence, off a great pass from Ronan Finn, to win a corner. Miele’s set piece delivery was met by McAllister, who rose highest in the six-yard box to give the visitors the lead.

Rovers dominated after the break, winning six corners in the first ten minutes of the second period. Neil McDonald didn’t hang around in making two changes just before the hour mark with Garbhán Coughlan and Stephen Kenny coming on.

However it was the Hoops who grabbed the next goal moments later on 59 minutes.

When Rovers played another set piece long, this time from their own half, the ball was cleared to Hoops captain Finn who calmly slotted the ball home in front of the celebrating Rovers’ away support.

McDonald brought on Tosi soon after in a bid to chase the game but Rovers continued to trouble Clarke with Shaw in particular causing the Blues defence difficulties.

Stephen Bradley handed a first appearance to Cameron King off the bench and the Scottish Uner 21 international looked lively in closing quarter.

Limerick threatened only briefly late in the game as Rovers looked content with their two goal lead. Tosi won a free kick wide left off Lee Grace and when Lynch swung it in, Tosi’s header was inches by the Rovers post.

A late mazy Miele run was almost rewarded with a third goal for Rovers before referee Graham Kelly blew the final whistle on a damaging defeat for Limerick.

The Blues now have only won one of their last eight league games and that was against bottom side Drogheda United.

Limerick remain in seventh but only three points clear of the dangerzone. They do at least have two home games to come against Bohs and Harps and they will need to pick up some points and soon.

Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Barry Cotter, Tony Whitehead, Joe Crowe, David O’Connor; Dean Clarke (Stephen Kenny 56), Shane Duggan (Rodrigo Tosi 66), Bastien Hery, Lee Lynch; Peter Beki (Garbhan Coughlan 56), Chiedozie Ogbene.

Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Shane Tracy, Henry Cameron, Killian Brouder.

Booked: Shane Duggan (34).

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, Dave Webster, Lee Grace, Trevor Clarke; Ronan Finn, David McAllister; James Doona (Cameron King 65), Ryan Connolly (Aaron Bolger 78), Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw (Michael O’Connor 83).

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (gk), Dean Carpenter, Daniel Devine, Michael O’Connor.

Booked: James Doona (17), Aaron Bolger (79), Tomer Chencinski (85).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,234.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers).