RAMPANT ROVERS GO IN FOR THE KIL’
Shamrock Rvs 4
Limerick FC 1
EA SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINAL
SHAMROCK Rovers strolled through to the EA Sports Cup final at the expense of the First Division leaders last night.
A brace of goals from Ciaran Kilduff, and one each from Sean Gannon and Billy Dennehy, settled the issue.
Pleased
Hoops boss Stephen Kenny was particularly pleased with Kilduff, who only recently returned from a long injury layoff.
“One of my disappointments of the season I’ve had is that I haven’t him (Kilduff),” said Kenny.
“He was terrific in pre-season and in training, and I knew he had a lot to offer.
“He’s a great lad. He worked hard to get back, and got a lot of kicks in the teeth.
“He was brilliant tonight – a threat all night.”
Rovers started strong, but as the half wore on, Limerick settled into the contest.
However, they were hit by a hammer blow on 23 minutes when Kilduff broke free down the left, pulled back for Gannon and he coolly slotted past Barry Ryan.
It was Gannon’s first ever goal for the Tallaght men.
Dennehy and Conor Powell both went close to doubling their side’s lead before the break.
Momentum
The Hoops – who last won this competition back in 1977 – carried their momentum from the first half into the second period.
It was 2-0 on 66 minutes when Dennehy combined with Ronan Finn, before delivering an inch-perfect low cross that was finished to the net with relative ease by Kilduff.
This goal further deflated the already faltering challenge from Pat Scully’s visitors.
With 12 minutes remaining Kilduff piled on the misery for Limerick by finishing into an empty net after he had squeezed Gary O’Neill’s telling through ball underneath the body of the hapless Ryan.
Limerick did score a deserved consolation goal when Jeffrey Judge fired past Reyaad Pieterse with an exquisite curled strike off his left peg from all of 25 yards.
Rovers weren’t finished just yet, though, and a fourth goal would arrive via Billy Dennehy two minutes into stoppage time.
Angle
The Kerryman’s low finish from a tight angle put the seal on a fine performance from Rovers.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pieterse; Gilbert, Hawkins, Oman, Powell; Gannon (Finn 58), McCormack , Brennan (Rice 80), Dennehy; Kilduff, Stewart (O’Neill 75).
LIMERICK: Ryan; Kelly, Purcell, Kluciar (Treacy 48), Tracy; Judge, Bradley (O’Brien 72), Gamble, McGann (Gaffney 56); Foley, Behan.
REFEREE: Paul Tuite (Dublin).