Ringo
18/09/2004, 4:39 PM
Saturday September 18th 2004
EIRCOM LEAGUE: Premier Division
SHAMROCK R 1
DUBLIN CITY 3
Owen Cowzer
BOTTOM side Dublin City claimed their first win under new manager Roddy Collins last night when they shocked Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park.
Starting the evening ten points off safety, Dublin City desperately needed to start winning and they did so thanks to a brace of goals from Cathal O'Connor and a late strike by Adam Rundle.
However, they were helped by an awful performance by Rovers, who themselves are now anxiously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.
Now just nine points clear of Dublin City and without a win in eight matches, Rovers are in danger of being sucked into trouble and on the evidence of last night's performance, they will be lucky not to dragged into the relegation dogfight.
Rovers had the better of the opening minutes, with Stephen Grant twice firing wide from long range and Trevor Molloy also coming close.
But it was the visitors who were the more dangerous, with Rovers' 'keeper Russell Payne forced to turn away a Cathal O'Connor effort in the 20th minute after the winger combined well with Gary O'Neill.
The pair combined again in the 26th minute for the opening goal as O'Neill fed the unmarked O'Connor 30 yards from goal. His long-range effort hit the boot of Paul Malone, who was attempting to close him down, and looped over Payne into the net.
The home side were struggling but out of nothing, they pulled level in the 44th minute when Grant cut in from the left before feeding O'Halloran who beat Barry Ryan with a low drive from the edge of the area.
Dublin City had the better of the second half, with O'Neill having a shot cleared off the line by Malone in the 66th minute before they grabbed a second goal in the 68th minute when O'Connor provided a cool finish after Robbie Farrell had flicked Rundle's cross into his path.
Rundle himself made the game safe with 16 minutes left with a precise finish after he raced unopposed from inside his own half.
SHAMROCK ROVERS - Payne; Gough, McGuinness (Cousins 80), Palmer, Malone; Robinson, O'Halloran (Caffrey 72), O'Brien, Rutherford; Grant, Molloy (Thornton 72).
DUBLIN CITY - Ryan; Friel, T O'Connor, Cooper, Rowland; C O'Connor; Tierney (Kenny 82), Crowley, Rundle; Nesovic (Farrell 65), O'Neill.
REF - A Kelly (Cork).
© http://www.unison.ie/
EIRCOM LEAGUE: Premier Division
SHAMROCK R 1
DUBLIN CITY 3
Owen Cowzer
BOTTOM side Dublin City claimed their first win under new manager Roddy Collins last night when they shocked Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park.
Starting the evening ten points off safety, Dublin City desperately needed to start winning and they did so thanks to a brace of goals from Cathal O'Connor and a late strike by Adam Rundle.
However, they were helped by an awful performance by Rovers, who themselves are now anxiously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.
Now just nine points clear of Dublin City and without a win in eight matches, Rovers are in danger of being sucked into trouble and on the evidence of last night's performance, they will be lucky not to dragged into the relegation dogfight.
Rovers had the better of the opening minutes, with Stephen Grant twice firing wide from long range and Trevor Molloy also coming close.
But it was the visitors who were the more dangerous, with Rovers' 'keeper Russell Payne forced to turn away a Cathal O'Connor effort in the 20th minute after the winger combined well with Gary O'Neill.
The pair combined again in the 26th minute for the opening goal as O'Neill fed the unmarked O'Connor 30 yards from goal. His long-range effort hit the boot of Paul Malone, who was attempting to close him down, and looped over Payne into the net.
The home side were struggling but out of nothing, they pulled level in the 44th minute when Grant cut in from the left before feeding O'Halloran who beat Barry Ryan with a low drive from the edge of the area.
Dublin City had the better of the second half, with O'Neill having a shot cleared off the line by Malone in the 66th minute before they grabbed a second goal in the 68th minute when O'Connor provided a cool finish after Robbie Farrell had flicked Rundle's cross into his path.
Rundle himself made the game safe with 16 minutes left with a precise finish after he raced unopposed from inside his own half.
SHAMROCK ROVERS - Payne; Gough, McGuinness (Cousins 80), Palmer, Malone; Robinson, O'Halloran (Caffrey 72), O'Brien, Rutherford; Grant, Molloy (Thornton 72).
DUBLIN CITY - Ryan; Friel, T O'Connor, Cooper, Rowland; C O'Connor; Tierney (Kenny 82), Crowley, Rundle; Nesovic (Farrell 65), O'Neill.
REF - A Kelly (Cork).
© http://www.unison.ie/