Shamrock Rovers overcame the stout resistance of UCD to take all three points at the Tallaght Stadium. It took a 83rd minute strike from Jack Byrne and a late, late Aaron McAneff goal to earn Rovers a 3-1 win in a fine game before 2,812. Rovers dom
Shamrock Rovers overcame the stout resistance of UCD to take all three points at the Tallaght Stadium.
It took a 83rd minute strike from Jack Byrne and a late, late Aaron McAneff goal to earn Rovers a 3-1 win in a fine game before 2,812. Rovers dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took an 18th minute lead.
The typically busy Greg Bolger made progress in the UCD half. His pass found Ronan Finn on the Rovers left. The skipper teed-up Jack Byrne and the international panelist drove a low shot to the UCD net although Conor Kearns did get a hand to the ball.
Rovers continued to have the upper hand and UCD’s 38th minute equalizer came as a quite a shock to the home side. In the Students’ first meaningful foray into enemy territory, Neil Farrugia burst down the left and rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Yousef Mahdy to slide a low shot to the bottom corner.
The second half was more even affair with Farrugia causing plenty of problems for Rovers with his pace. However, Rovers could and should have been out of sight. Aaron Greene saw a header taken off the line by Josh Collins while Conor Kearns made several superb saves in the UCD goal.
Rovers finally got the reward their play deserved when Jack Byrne slotted home a rebound after Ronan Finn’s cross from the right struck the left hand upright. With UCD chasing an equalizer deep into injury time, Conor Kearns made his way forward for a corner.
Rovers broke quickly out of defence and McAneff was able to slot home into an unguarded net.
