Under-20 Final

**GreenStar** · 30/09/2010, 5:18 PM

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Bohemians aet
Rovers won 6-5 on penalties
Tallaght Stadium,
Thursday 28th October, 7.45pm

Semi-Final:
Match A: Bohemians 2-1 UCD
Match B: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Sporting Fingal

Quarter-Final:
Match 1: Bohemians v Dundalk
Match 2: UCD v Salthill Devon
Match 3: Drogheda United v Sporting Fingal
Match 4: Mervue United v Shamrock Rovers

**GreenStar** · 20/10/2010, 9:00 PM

Final moved to Thursday 28th October at Tallaght Stadium.

**howsyourtouch** · 29/10/2010, 2:43 AM

so rovers won it on peno's in the end!

**harps1954** · 29/10/2010, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by howsyourtouch

so rovers won it on peno's in the end!

Anything else on it. Full-time score, etc.

**the 12 th man** · 29/10/2010, 3:14 PM

Originally Posted by harps1954

Anything else on it. Full-time score, etc.

Comprehensive report here
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/...s_under20.html

**GreenStar** · 31/10/2010, 3:10 PM

Rovers beat Bohs on penalties in Final

Hoops spot on in dramatic shoot out!
Dr. Tony O’Neill Under 20 Championship Final
28th October 2010, Tallaght Stadium
Rovers 1:1 Bohemians
(Rovers won 6-5 on penalties a.e.t.)

The excitement was almost unbearable at Tallaght Stadium last night as Rovers and Bohs had to resort to a dramatic penalty shoot out to determine which of them would lift the 2010 Dr. Tony O’Neill U20 League title.

Before the game kicked off a minute’s silence was observed for the late Gerry Judge, Tallaght Stadium manager and great friend of Shamrock Rovers, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

Hardly a soul amongst the attendance of 653 left early as two very committed teams went head to head for the coveted prize and, with plenty of young stars on show who impressed, the crowd showed their appreciation to both teams at the end of a long night.

Bohs began brighter and it was some time into the game before Rovers settled. Amongst most notable incidents of the first half were a save from Hoops’ keeper Robbie Hughes in the 16th minute, a Bohs move involving Stephen Traynor, Gary Burke and Lee Dixon with the latter firing his shot at goal wide, a good free kick from Hoops’ right full Sean Gannon into the box which Conor Murphy just couldn’t get his head to and a save by Hughes again from Dixon after a well worked move involving three Bohs players. The ‘Gypsies’ took the lead after 40 minutes of play after another well-worked move involving several players which ended this time with Traynor connecting with the ball and firing past Hughes over the line. Daniel McGuinness had a shot saved by Bohs’ keeper Craig Sexton right on the stroke of the half time whistle.

Rovers came out a different side after the break and did most of the attacking as Bohs defended their lead. McGuinness and Murphy were causing the opposing defenders untold problems at this stage but time and again they were denied an opportunity as the Bohs’ lads kept tight to the duo.
Rovers continued to press as time was running out and were rewarded in the 83rd minute. The ball came into the box, there was a mad scramble, a Bohs foot managed to clear it but only as far as Craig Rothery and the half time substitute picked his spot before making no mistake for the equaliser.

The game went to extra time during which Bohs lost Burke through injury and went down to ten men as they had used their full compliment of subs. The players on both sides were pretty tired at this stage and the conditions were not suitable for good football.

So the game went to penalties. There was huge surprise when Hoops ‘keeper Hughes was the first up to take a shot. It was a very courageous thing to do, one could only wonder had Hughes missed his shot how his confidence would have been for the reminder of the shoot out? However, he took his shot well and got the Hoops off to a good start. Shane Keely was next up for Bohs and a huge cheer went up when the midfielder missed his shot so the advantage was very much in favour of the Tallaght side right from the start, or so it would have seemed at the time. Keith Kinsella and Mark O’Reilly then successfully converted for their respective teams but then Bohs got back on level terms when Colm Corcoran missed for the Hoops and David Lodolia made no mistake with his effort. It was 2-2 but there was lots more drama to come as Jeff Flood missed for Rovers, Kevin Feely put Bohs ahead 3-2 but then after Conor Murphy scored from his chance Stephen Traynor could only watch as Hughes pulled off a top class save to make it 3-3 and so it went to sudden death. Danny McGuinness and Christopher Forrester both converted for their teams as also did Mick Doyle and Roberto Lopez but then Darren Murray hit the crossbar for Rovers and it looked all over for the Hoops. However, the twists and turns rolled on and Rovers survived again when Declan Brennan also missed for Bohs. Jack Memery was next up and he put the ball into the back of the net past Sexton and then the decisive moment came when Mark Mayer missed his shot and it was all over.
Tremendous scenes of joy followed as the young Hoops celebrated their hard-earned win. The crowd filtered out into the night with the satisfaction that they had witnessed another little piece of history being made at Tallaght Stadium.

The referee was Rob Daly, his assistants were Andrew Maher and Robert Harvey and the 4th official was Phil Caschera.

Rovers’ Daniel McGuinness was presented with the Man of the Match award.

Rovers line-up:
1. Robbie Hughes
20. Sean Gannon
3. Jack Memery
4. Donal Branagan
5. Jeff Flood
6. Carl Kinnear
7. Mick Doyle
8. Colm Corcoran
9. Conor Murphy
10. Daniel McGuinness
11. Conor Earley
Substitutes:
13. Keith Kinsella (for Branagan 79 mins)
14. Sean Byrne
15. Darren Murray (for Kinnear 61 mins)
17. Abiola Sanusi
18. Craig Rothery (for Earley h.t.)

Courtesy shamrockrovers.ie