League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 1 Cork City

Goals from Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele and Michael O’Connor gave Steven Bradley’s side a 3-1 win over Cork City at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.

Both sides needed the three points for different reasons as John Caulfield’s side are storming towards to the league title while Rovers need a win to move into third and the final automatic European place.

The first dangerous attack of the game came in the seventh minute as Garry Buckley tried to slip ex-Rovers man Karl Sheppard through but the pass was poor and Roberto Lopes easily dealt with the danger.

Rovers broke the deadlock soon after, Ronan Finn had a shot from about 25 yards out which took a deflected off Alan Bennett on the way through wrong footing Mark McNulty in the City goal before hitting the back of the net.

The Hoops doubled their lead on 20 minutes as good running from Trevor Clarke from his own half was stopped through a good challenge from skipper Alan Bennett before the ball broke to Miele. He hit a fierce shot with his right foot which flew past McNulty who had no chance to save.

The Rebels had a decent chance to pull a goal back soon after as the ball broke to Jimmy Keohane on the edge of the box with his right footed effort being charged down well by Lee Grace at the heart of the Rovers defence.

A Geariod Morrissey ball over the top almost found Kieran Sadlier clean through on goal but his timing of the run was a bit late as the linesman was to of judged him just offside to the disbelief of Sadlier and his City teammates.

John Caulfield’s men could have pulled one back just before the end of the half as a Stephen Beattie corner was met by the head of skipper Alan Bennett who headed just over the bar, but referee Paul McLaughlin pulled it up as a push by Bennet on Rovers keeper Tomer Chencinski.

The Hoops could of made it three 10 minutes into the second half as a through pass from Trevor Clarke, sent Brandon Miele straight in on goal but however his effort was tame with McNulty making easy work of it at his front post.

Cork had a great chance to pull one back just on the hour mark when Karl Sheppard hit a low cross which evaded everyone in the box before arriving to Kieran Sadlier on the back post who could not sort his feet out in time before Chencinski came out from his line to gather the ball into his hands.

The Leesiders did give themselves a lifeline with twenty minutes to go as a corner from Beattie was headed clear far as to Morrissey who hit a rasping shot with his right foot which flew into the bottom corner of the Rovers goal, deserving of the second half display that Caulfield’s men were putting in.

Rovers sealed the win though with six minutes to go a low driven cross from Simon Madden on the right hand side went towards the front post where substitute Michael O’Connor made a darting run towards the front post before finishing past McNulty in the opposite corner to send the Hoops crowd home delirious.

Rovers throughout deserved their 3-1 victory, as Stephen Bradley finally gets one over John Caulfield this season in the league. The win moves the Hoops up to third in the league putting themselves into a European spot in the league before the FAI Cup against Bluebell just a week away.

Meanwhile Cork will have to wait another week to seal their league crown and have now lost four out of the last seven games since Sean Maguire’s high profile move to Preston.

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopez, Ryan Connolly, Ronan Finn; Brandon Miele, Gary Shaw(Michael O’Connor 76), David McAllister, Simon Madden; Trevor Clarke, Aaron Bolger (Sam Bone 71)

Bookings: Tomer Chencinski (77)

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan, Dean Carpenter, James Doona, Darren Clarke, Cameron King

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Alan Bennett(Robbie Williams 45), Ryan Delaney, Jimmy Keohane, Conor McCormack(Conor Ellis 45); Steven Beattie(Achille Campion 64), Kieran Sadlier, Gearoid Morrissey, Karl Sheppard; Shane Griffin, Garry Buckley

Bookings: Conor McCormack (30), Ryan Delaney (58)

Subs not used: Alan Smith,Conor McCarthy, Greg Bolger.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Man of the Match: Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers)

Attendance: 3,452