Shamrock Rovers 1 - 0 Dundalk

Shamrock Rovers made hard work of their 1-0 victory over Dundalk on Monday night for Stephen Kenny's return to the Tallaght Stadium. Sean O'Connor's goal on the stroke of half time was enough to give the home side the points.

After a tentative start to the game Rovers created the first chance in the 10th minute. Gary McCabe and Stephen Rice linked up nicely inside the area before Rice found Ronan Finn. Finn got his shot off but it was too soft and it was a comfortable save for the busy Peter Cherrie.
 

Dundalk improved as the half went on and Richie Towell had their first shot in anger in the 26th minute. Derek Foran could only head his clearance to the former Celtic player and Towell didn't hesitate before shooting with his right foot from about 25 yards out. His effort had Barry Murphy scrambling across goal as the ball went just past the post.
 

Shortly afterwards Karl Sheppard came close to scoring.  Rice found O'Connor on the left and Rover's number 10 picked out Sheppard with a pinpoint cross. The Hoops striker looked certain to score but Cherrie denied him by diving low to his left to produce a fine save.
 

However the home side didn't have it all their own way. Keith Ward beat Stephen Rice with a lovely piece of skill and hit a fine shot from outside the area which was heading for the top corner but Murphy dived to his right to push it away for a corner.
 

The visitors created another chance just before half-time. The ball found its' way to number nine Patrick Hoban. Hoban raced towards goal but under pressure from Foran he blazed his effort high and wide from inside the 6 yard box.

Rovers took the lead on the stroke of half time. The ball arrived in the Dundalk penalty area from a Karl Sheppard cross. Centre back Andy Boyle tried to clear it. Sean O'Connor blocked it and the former St.Pats player got there before Boyle, and despite the efforts of the onrushing Peter Cherrie, O'Connor managed to find the back of the net to leave the home team the happier at the interval.

It was nearly 2-0 five minutes into the second half. Danny Ledwith struck a low shot from outside the area which looked destined for the bottom corner before hitting the post. The rebound broke to Finn who must have thought he was going to score but Peter Cherrie was there again and dived low to his left to deny Trevor Crolly's men.

The home side had most of the play but the Louth club were capable of creating chances and they had a half chance in the 57th minute. Darren Meenan took a corner from the left and Hoban found space and time in the area to fire at goal but he couldn't keep his effort down.
 

Mark Quigley should have scored against his former club in the 76th minute. Rice played a lovely ball across to Billy Dennehy who headed it across goal to Quigley in space 6 yards out. Somehow the Rovers substitute headed wide when it seemed easier to score.
 

Just a minute later the Hoops broke on the counter attack. Finn played it to  to O'Connor  but the left winger hit a poor shot wide of the target.

Dundalk almost made the home team pay for their missed chances seven minutes from time. Towell broke down the right and played an excellent ball into the area. Tiernan Mulvenna got there before Foran but from 6 yards out he put it over the bar. Just like Quigley at the other end Mulvenna will be wondering how he didn't score.
 

There was to be no late drama or chances for either side. Shamrock Rovers held on for a much needed win after a solid if not spectacular performance. Stephen Kenny will probably rue Tiernan Mulvenna's missed opportunity to get his side back on level terms.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Pat Sullivan (c), Derek Foran, Jason McGuinness, Danny Ledwith; James Chambers, Stephen Rice; Gary McCabe (Billy Dennehy 56), Ronan Finn (Shane Robinson 82), Sean O'Connor; Karl Sheppard (Mark Quigley 70).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Conor McCormack,  Ciaran Kilduff, David Elebert.

Booked: McGuinness (41)

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Mountney, John Sullivan, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Stephen O'Donnell (c);  Keith Ward (John Dillon 66), Darren Meenan (Stephen McDonnell 81), Kurtis Byrne (Tiernan Mulvenna 74); Patrick Hoban
Subs not used: Eoghan Osborne, Vinny Faherty, Aaron Shanahan.

Booked: Hoban (1), O'Donnell (52), Massey (63).


Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 2,500 estimate.

Extratime.ie Man of the match:  Stephen Rice (Shamrock Rovers).