Hoops' impressive run continues with win over Cork
Tuesday 29th May 2007, 10:02 pm
Ger Rowe (right) celebrates after making it 2-0 at Tolka Park.
Photo by Tom Carey.
29th May 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Shamrock Rovers 2
Barry Ferguson 19
Ger Rowe 58
Cork City 0
Tolka Park
Shamrock Rovers secured a much deserved 2-0 win over Cork City at Tolka Park tonight. Goals from Barry Ferguson and Ger Rowe in either half undid a fairly toothless visiting City side.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start as the sun bore down on the Drumcondra venue.
Cillian Lordan was the first go close but the Cork midfielder saw his header blocked after a corner kick just before the tenth minute.
The Rovers opening goal arrived on 19 minutes as Ferguson rose above everyone to head past Michael Devine from David Cassidy's floated free kick into the box. Ferguson picking a good time to score his first goal for the Hoops.
Joe Gamble holds off Shamrock Rovers Dave O'Connor.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Roy O'Donovan and John O'Flynn were largely ineffective for Cork up front. In fact a frustrated O'Donovan looked ready to lose control a couple of times and a late stamping attempted block on Ger O'Brien saw the Cork man booked in the second half.
He fired a shot into the side netting midway through the first half, holding up play as repairs were required. Once Rovers goalkeeping coach Stephen O'Brien had taped things up, the game was back on.
Joe Gamble, playing for the first time since making his Ireland debut, fired well off target as Rovers well organised defence just weren't letting the visitors through.
Rowe headed wide under pressure after another dangerous Cassidy cross. Admir Softic saw his shot flick off a defender before going behind.
Roy O'Donovan was booked for this attempted block on Ger O'Brien.
Photo by Tom Carey.
City almost conceded a comical second before half time as Dan Murray lashed his attempted clearance against the legs of Rovers Tadhg Purcell but Cork survived as the ball flew over.
A sustained period of Rovers pressure just before the hour mark saw Rovers grab their second of the night. Purcell first of all saw his shot deflect wide after he did well to squeeze in a shot. From the resulting corner the same player saw his header flick off Dave O'Connor and narrowly miss the target.
A similar routine seconds later saw Devine pull off a superb stop to push over from Dave O'Connor's header at point blank range.
Another Rovers corner brought the second goal as City again struggled to clear the loose ball before Rowe lashed it home from inside the box.
Liam Kearney and Danny O'Connor battle for the ball.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Cork looked stunned as they struggled to create. Goalkeeper Barry Murphy grabbed hold at the second attempt as O'Donovan attempted to connect with a cross into the area.
Cork substitute Darren Murphy looked lively when he came on but no-one was able to connect with his low inviting cross as Cork's hopes faded.
O'Flynn chased in for Cork but his shot across goal missed the target summing up Cork's poor night in front of goal.
O'Donovan did get a shot on target as the final ten minutes approached but it was all too easy for Murphy between the posts.
Denis Behan volleyed well off target in the closing minutes as Cork's challenge faded out.
Ger Rowe and Darragh Ryan jockey for position.
Photo by Tom Carey.
The result moves Rovers fourth in the table, one point ahead of Cork and within nine points of leaders St. Pats whom the Hoops have a game in hand on.
Shamrock Rovers : Murphy, G O'Brien, Ferguson, Price, Pender, Cassidy, Danny O'Connor, Ryan, Dave O'Connor, Rowe, Purcell (Myler, 77).
Cork City : Devine, Horgan, O'Callaghan (Kelly 61), Murray, Ryan, Cillian Lordan (Behan 75), Gamble, Softic (Murphy 61), Kearney, O'Donovan, O'Flynn.