FAI CUP FIRST ROUND
BANGOR CELTIC 0
SHAMROCK ROVERS 4
Daire Walsh
25-times champions Shamrock Rovers advanced to the second round of the FAI Cup with a convincing victory over Leinster Senior League outfit Bangor Celtic at Tallaght Stadium last night.
Rory Gaffney, Sean Hoare, Aidomo Emakhu and new recruit Daniel Cleary all found the net as the Hoops swept aside the challenge of their fellow south Dubliners with minimal fuss.
In addition to handing debuts to Cleary and Simon Power, Rovers boss Stephen Bradley also fielded teenagers Emakhu, Justin Ferizaj and Cory O’Sullivan in his starting line-up. There was some frustration for the Premier Division holders during the opening quarter with Gaffney and Neil Farrugia both having goals ruled out for offside.
Hoare’s powerful header also smashed the crossbar before Gaffney finally broke the deadlock with a fierce finish from a right-hand angle on 32 minutes. While a 1-0 interval deficit left the door open for Bangor, it seemed inevitable that the Hoops would add to their advantage.
Three-time FAI Cup winner Hoare eventually doubled the lead off a set-piece move in the 66th-minute and after the impressive Emakhu bagged the goal that his performance deserved, Cleary capped his first Rovers outing with a smooth close-range finish eight minutes from time.
BANGOR CELTIC – Hayden; Farrell, Maher, Prendergast, McCarthy; O’Callaghan (Synnott 75), Whelan (Mahony 64); Andre (Bennett 64), Stokes, McGuirk (McGee 46); Hanaphy (Boulmeth 80).
SHAMROCK ROVERS – Pohls; Gannon, Cleary, Hoare; Farrugia (Carey 69), Watts, Ferizaj, O’Sullivan; Power (Tetteh 59), Emakhu; Gaffney (Leddy 69).
REF – O Moran (Dublin).