Shamrock Rovers

[ForzaForth]

Same result as last week but a much more encouraging performance by the Youths in Tallaght tonight as they were a bit unlucky not to come away with something out of the game before conceding a very late penalty. Youths began with the same XI as last week with Graham, Craig, Lee, Gary, Ryan, Eric, Hopper, Jonny, Aidan and with Danny and Spot up front. First half was relatively devoid of chances as the Youths managed to keep Rovers at bay. The major weakness for the Youths was a tendency to give the ball away too cheaply at times. Rovers had a dangerous free and corner in the first minute. On ten minutes, Ryan Delaney had a looping header from a free but it only gave Barry Murphy in the Hoops goal a comfortable catch. On 20 minutes, Killian Brennan got what looked like a harsh yellow for a clash of heads with Hopper Kenny. Five minutes later, Danny Furlong got a shot on target but Murphy held it well. Lee Grace then got in a good tackle to deprive Rovers of a chance. With ten to go in the half, Brandon Miele broke the Youth's offside trap but a very heavy touch meant that the ball just trickled into Graham Doyle's hands. A yellow card for Hopper Kenny then ended the half with the Youths looking quite comfortable at 0-0.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford began the second half brightly and Aidan Friel looked to have a very good chance on four minutes when he turned in the box to have only Murphy to beat from ten yards out, but Murphy managed to push the effort away for a corner. The resulting corner gave Gary Delaney the chance to head over the bar. However, the deadlock was broken on 61 minutes when Graham Doyle could only parry a Rovers free and Danny North had the easiest of chances to put Rovers 1-0 up. Gary Shaw then came on for Rovers and, on 77 minutes, Spot Murphy had another good chance to test Barry Murphy but couldn't beat him. Shane Keegan then brought on three subs - Danny Ledwith, Craig Wall and Andy Mulligan but other than a dangerous cross which Spot Murphy just couldn't reach inside the Rovers box (and got a yellow for his attempt), the match ended easily enough for Rovers, especially with a minute to go from normal time when Graham Doyle made a good save but Lee Grace was adjudged to have made a rash tackle when attempting a further clearance. The resulting penalty was put away well by Gary McCabe to leave the final score at 2-0 for Rovers.

[ForzaForth]

Youths put in a well-organised display on the night with Gary Delaney (surely destined for a higher level) and Lee Grace doing really well at the back. In midfield, Eric Molloy was impressive down the left wing while Spot had some nice touches up front. Some better use of the ball in the middle and final thirds by the Youths might have yielded a better result on the night. 2-0 to Rovers at full-time.