- Josh Dolan
- Sun, May 18 2014
A cracking volley from Eamon Zayed after 66 minutes gave Shamrock Rovers a single goal victory against a resilient Athlone Town, at Tallaght Stadium, on Saturday night.
The Hoops started on the front foot, and had their first opportunity with less than a minute on the clock, as Kieran Marty Waters found Luke Byrne on the left, however the full back couldn’t locate any of his team mate’s with the resulting cross.
Rovers centre half, Jason McGuinness had a chance to put his side in front after eight minutes, as the towering defender rose to meet Gary McCabe’s cross, only to see his header blocked and cleared by the Athlone defence.
McCabe was at the heart of everything positive about Shamrock Rovers, on Saturday night. After 20 minutes he played a ball over the top of the Athlone back four, for Ciaran Kilduff to run onto, however the forward’s effort was blocked away by Athlone Skipper, Derek Prendergast.
The Hoops had a penalty shout after 24 minutes, as Simon Madden’s volley looked to have hit the hand of Barry Clancy, however Referee, David McKeon said no penalty.
Athlone had their first effort of the game a couple of minutes later, as Sean Brennan stood over a free kick 25 yards out from goal, however his floated cross eluded all of his team mates, including Phillip Gorman, who was waiting in anticipation, at the back post.
Kieran Marty Waters was denied twice by Paul Skinner in the Athlone goal just before the half hour mark. First McCabe crossed for Waters who saw his volley parried back out to him by Skinner, only to fire the rebound back into the arms of the net minder.
McGuinness had his second chance of the game just before the break, as McCabe’s cross was flicked towards McGuinness , at the far post, however the centre back couldn’t connect with the ball properly, and his effort trickled wide.
The first shot of the second period didn’t arrive until the 58th minute, and when it did, it was in vein. Man of the match, McCabe skipped past a couple of challenges, before shooting directly into the gloves of Skinner.
Rovers continued to press, and keep possession, despite finding it difficult to break down Athlone... Ronan Finn had his first chance of the game on 64 minutes, as he played one two with Kilduff, before seeing his being blocked away.
Zayed came on as a substitute after 62 minutes , and put The Hoops with in front with a sensational finish just four minutes later, as Ronan Finn found the striker with a ball down the touch line, before letting the ball bounce and volleying the ball over Skinner’s head from the proximity of the right corner flag.
Athlone brought Jason Marks on after 71 minutes in a bid to launch a comeback, and the ex Drog played a part in Athlone’s best opportunity of the game, as Marks brought the ball to the bye-line ,before pulling the ball back for Gorman, only to see his shot cleared off the goal line.
Hoops striker, Kilduff could and should have won the game for Croly’s side, as he found himself through on goal before rounding Skinner, and tapping the ball goal wards, only to see Stephen Quigley clear his effort off the line.
However, despite the miss The Hoops hung on for another three points, which sees them go top of The SSE Airtricity League.
Shamrock Rovers host Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium next Friday, while Athlone host UCD.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Robert Cornwall, Jason McGuinness, Luke Byrne; Stephen McPhail, Ryan Brennan (Eamon Zayed 62), Ronan Finn; Gary McCabe, Ciaran Kilduff, Kieran Marty Waters (Sean O’Connor 62).
Subs Not Used: Craig Hyland (gk), David O’Connor, Robert Bayly, Dean Kelly, Karl Sheppard.
Bookings: R Brennan (37), Finn (52), McPhail (87).
Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Stephen Quigley (Ian Sweeney 83), Derek Prendergast, Declan Brennan (Jason Marks 71), Barry Clancy; Alan Byrne; Sean Brennan (Conor McMahon 83), Kealan Dillon, James O’Brien, Graham Rusk; Phillip Gorman.
Subs Not Used: Craig Sexton (gk), Neil Harney, Michael Monaghan; Mark Hughes.
Bookings: Gorman (40), A Byrne (50), Rusk (61), O'Brien (90+1).
Referee: David McKeon.
Attendance: 1,200 (estimate)
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Gary McCabe (Shamrock Rovers).
