Gary O’Neill’s 65th-minute strike saw Shamrock Rovers crowned 2011 Setanta Sports Cup champions as they defeated Dundalk 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening, Billy Dennehy adding an insurance goal deep in injury-time. The Lilywhites had gone close through Mark Quigley in the first half, Alan Mannus producing a fine save from a 25-yard free-kick, before Dennehy hit a set-piece of his own off the post. Dundalk had Peter Cherrie to thank for keeping them level early in the second half as he denied Ronan Finn, but there was nothing he could do about O’Neill’s strike who blasted in after a pull-back from Finn. Dennehy and the returning Gary Twigg then hit the woodwork, before the ex-Cork City winger wrapped it up late on with a drive from distance.
One change
Dundalk manager Ian Foster made one change to the team that defeated Bohemians last Monday evening as Stephen McDonnell returned in place of Shane Guthrie, with Michael Hector reverting to the centre of defence alongside Colin Hawkins. Rovers also made one switch to the team that drew in Oriel Park a fortnight ago as Greenore native Conor McCormack replaced Gary McCabe. Dundalk’s first chance came on nine minutes when the ball fell invitingly to Ross Gaynor inside the box but his shot was deflected wide. Seconds later, McDonnell was forced off with a knee injury, with Dean Bennett coming on in his place. Shortly after coming on, Bennett saw a low cross-cum-shot held by Mannus, before, on the quarter-hour mark, Gaynor picked out Jason Byrne outside the box and he turned well before shooting past the far post.
Rovers pressure
Finn then charged down a Cherrie clearance after a back-pass fell short, but the ball went harmlessly behind. Past the half-hour mark, Mannus was forced into a superb save as, after Greg Bolger did well to win the free-kick, Quigley curled a 25-yard effort towards the top corner which the Rovers No1 pushed behind. Both sides were enjoying spells in the game, but before half-time the Hoops went within inches of taking the lead. On 42 minutes, after Hector committed the foul, Dennehy’s powerful low effort crashed back off the upright with Cherrie well beaten. Seconds later, Cherrie was forced into a fine save when he pushed Finn’s 20-yard effort around the post, before Dundalk survived a penalty shout after a high boot from Byrne. Hawkins then produced an inch-perfect last-ditch tackle, before Daniel Kearns broke through at the other end, but with Byrne in support, he elected to shoot, his effort going well wide.
O’Neill strike
After the break, the first chance fell on 52 minutes when Finn broke through on the right of the box but after bearing down on goal his shot was brilliantly blocked by the body of Cherrie, with the ball rebounding off the ex-UCD midfielder and behind. Dundalk were hit with another injury blow before the hour when Byrne pulled his hamstring, with Keith Ward coming on in his place. Shortly after, Simon Madden was fouled on the line of the area but Bolger’s free-kick was headed wide by Quigley. But, within seconds of the introduction of Twigg, Rovers took the lead when Finn did well on the left and laid the ball back to O’Neill who blasted to the net from 12-yards.
Dennehy clincher
Dundalk tried to respond and on 70 minutes, Gaynor rolled a free-kick to Bolger, 25-yards out, but his dipping shot cleared Mannus’ crossbar. On 78 minutes, Dennehy’s cross came back off the bar, before he drilled narrowly wide moments later. With four minutes left, Twigg got in behind Hector and fired past Cherrie but the ball came back off the post, with Madden tidying up. In the dying seconds, Quigley saw a shot deflected wide as Dundalk. And Rovers added another deep in injury-time when Dennehy shot from 25-yards, Cherrie going full length to get a hand to it, but the ball bounced off the inside of the post and just made it over the line.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins, Michael Hector, Nathan Murphy; Stephen McDonnell (Dean Bennett 9), Greg Bolger; Daniel Kearns, Mark Quigley, Ross Gaynor (Johnny Breen 86); Jason Byrne (Keith Ward 59).
Booked: G Bolger (65).
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK), Shane Guthrie, Mark Griffin, Chris Kerr.
SHAMROCK ROVERS FC: Alan Mannus; Pat Sullivan, Dan Murray ©, Ken Oman, Enda Stevens; Ronan Finn, Stephen Rice (Gary Twigg 64), Conor McCormack, Billy Dennehy; Gary O’Neill, Karl Sheppard (Gary McCabe 78).
Goals: G O’Neill (65), B Dennehy (90+3).
Booked: R Finn (39).
Unused Subs: Ryan Thompson (GK), Ciarán Kilduff, Pat Flynn, Paddy Kavanagh, Chris Turner.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
