Shamrock Rovers 0 - 3 Manchester United
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Manchester United Reserves ran out comfortable winners at Tallaght Stadium in the first Platinum One Challenge match against Shamrock Rovers.
Three goals in the second half sealed the win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as Tom Cleverley began the scoring with a penalty on the hour mark. This was followed up by Magnus Eikrem before reserve captain Marnick Vermeijl rounded off the win.
Man Utd came into the match on the back of a strong pre-season which saw them beat Oxford United and Dunfermline with only a loss against Yeovil Town the slight blemish on their record.
Both Gary Neville and Fabio Da Silva started as Reserves coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to start the strongest possible team available to him perhaps with the exception of Brazilian born midfielder who started on the bench.
George Kelly attended Sunday night's Platinum One opener between Shamrock Rovers and Manchester United and we have a selection of his photos available to view above.
Michael O’Neill named an entirely different squad to that which recorded the 2-0 over Drogheda United on Friday night as Neale Fenn got his first start in the green and white of Rovers.
Both sides began at a frantic pace, lining up in 4-4-2, it was the visitors who had the lion’s share of possession and only for the services of Pat Jennings United may have gone into the break 4 or 5 ahead as the former Derry City keeper was on top form.
United’s Will Keane was the first to test the keeper after only 10 minutes, a point blank shot was saved by the reactive Jennings before twice denying Tom Cleverley the second coming with a wonderful double save.
Cleverley hit a shot from close range forcing Jennings to parry it into the path of the lurking Will Keane whose first time shot was brilliantly turned away by another diving save from the Rovers shot stopper as the on looking Michael O’Neill cannot fail to be impressed with the first half display.
Rovers only chance came on 37 minutes when Neale Fenn was picked out with a fantastic diagonal ball and his looping header was just over.
Dubliner Robert Brady made an appearance in the second half and the Baldoyle native impressed with an end to end performance before being denied by Robert Hughes after working some space in the box before striking a beautiful shot goalwards.
Conor Devlin made an impression in the second half stepping in for Ben Amos in the United goal, the Belfast born shot stopper made a fantastic reactionary save with his foot from Danny McGuinness.
Shamrock Rovers: Pat Jennings, Pat Flynn, Sean Gannon, Jack Memery, Danny Murphy, Keith Gillespie, Connor Murphy, Sean O'Connor, Neale Fenn and Graham Barrett Subs (All Used): Jeff flood, Robert Hughes, Darren Murray, Patrick Gannon, Danny McGuinness, Darragh Satelle, Tony Griffiths, Darra Kenna.
Man Utd Reserves: Ben Amos, Gary Neville, Fabio Da Silva, Ritchie De Laet, Oliver Gill, Will Keane, Oliver Norwood, Nicky Ajose, Tom Cleverley, Magnus Eikrem, Joe Dudgeon. Subs (All Used): Scott Wooton, Conor Devlin, Mavrick Vermijl, Rodrigo Possebon, Robert Brady
Three goals in the second half sealed the win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as Tom Cleverley began the scoring with a penalty on the hour mark. This was followed up by Magnus Eikrem before reserve captain Marnick Vermeijl rounded off the win.
Man Utd came into the match on the back of a strong pre-season which saw them beat Oxford United and Dunfermline with only a loss against Yeovil Town the slight blemish on their record.
Both Gary Neville and Fabio Da Silva started as Reserves coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to start the strongest possible team available to him perhaps with the exception of Brazilian born midfielder who started on the bench.
George Kelly attended Sunday night's Platinum One opener between Shamrock Rovers and Manchester United and we have a selection of his photos available to view above.
Michael O’Neill named an entirely different squad to that which recorded the 2-0 over Drogheda United on Friday night as Neale Fenn got his first start in the green and white of Rovers.
Both sides began at a frantic pace, lining up in 4-4-2, it was the visitors who had the lion’s share of possession and only for the services of Pat Jennings United may have gone into the break 4 or 5 ahead as the former Derry City keeper was on top form.
United’s Will Keane was the first to test the keeper after only 10 minutes, a point blank shot was saved by the reactive Jennings before twice denying Tom Cleverley the second coming with a wonderful double save.
Cleverley hit a shot from close range forcing Jennings to parry it into the path of the lurking Will Keane whose first time shot was brilliantly turned away by another diving save from the Rovers shot stopper as the on looking Michael O’Neill cannot fail to be impressed with the first half display.
Rovers only chance came on 37 minutes when Neale Fenn was picked out with a fantastic diagonal ball and his looping header was just over.
Dubliner Robert Brady made an appearance in the second half and the Baldoyle native impressed with an end to end performance before being denied by Robert Hughes after working some space in the box before striking a beautiful shot goalwards.
Conor Devlin made an impression in the second half stepping in for Ben Amos in the United goal, the Belfast born shot stopper made a fantastic reactionary save with his foot from Danny McGuinness.
Shamrock Rovers: Pat Jennings, Pat Flynn, Sean Gannon, Jack Memery, Danny Murphy, Keith Gillespie, Connor Murphy, Sean O'Connor, Neale Fenn and Graham Barrett Subs (All Used): Jeff flood, Robert Hughes, Darren Murray, Patrick Gannon, Danny McGuinness, Darragh Satelle, Tony Griffiths, Darra Kenna.
Man Utd Reserves: Ben Amos, Gary Neville, Fabio Da Silva, Ritchie De Laet, Oliver Gill, Will Keane, Oliver Norwood, Nicky Ajose, Tom Cleverley, Magnus Eikrem, Joe Dudgeon. Subs (All Used): Scott Wooton, Conor Devlin, Mavrick Vermijl, Rodrigo Possebon, Robert Brady
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile