Sport

Rovers ease into last eight

Shamrock Rovers - 2 Cobh Ramblers - 0 Shamrock Rovbers booked a place in the last eight of the FAI Cup after a rather one-sided…

Mon Aug 19 2002 - 01:00

Shamrock Rovers - 2 Cobh Ramblers - 0Shamrock Rovbers booked a place in the last eight of the FAI Cup after a rather one-sided tie at Tolka Park yesterday as goals in each half from James Keddy and Seán Francis earned a victory over Cobh Ramblers.

Rovers dominated for large periods of the match and with better finishing, would have won by a greater margin.

Francis headed over after eight minutes from a Keith Doyle cross and three minutes later, Keddy blazed over from three yards after Francis' cross had found him unmarked with just goalkeeper John Donegan to beat.

Donegan was called into action again after 23 minutes when he saved Jason Colwell's volley from 10 yards but he was less fortunate in the 31st minute as Rovers grabbed the opening goal of the game.

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Noel Hunt turned his man on the half way line and released Francis, whoseshot was parried out to Keddy, who hammered home the rebound for his first goal since joining from Dundalk in the close-season.

For the remainder of the half, Rovers teased their opponents, who's only effort of the first half was an Andy Noonan strike that grazed the top of the crossbar, though they failed to create any significant chances. Cobh then lifted their game and both Declan McGregor and Darren Murphy both headed efforts over from Dave Hill free kicks, while the player-manager himself fired wide from just outside the penalty area.

However, they were leaving big spaces at the back for Rovers to exploit and they were almost punished in the 71st minute when Stephen Grant scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

However, in the dying minutes, it was Rovers who were on top and in the final minute Francis made up for a number of earlier misses when he fired home a low drive from the edge of the box.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Horgan; O'Keefe, Scully, McGuinness, Doyle; Colwell, Costello, Byrne; Hunt, Francis, Keddy. Subs: Kenny for Costello (60 mins), Deans for O'Keefe (66 mins), Grant for Scully (70 mins).

COBH RAMBLERS: Donegan; Hastings, Murphy, Brosnan, Hughes; McGregor, Noonan, Hill, Yelverton; Dobbs, O'Reilly. Subs: Cummins for Noonan (half-time), White for Hughes (60 mins), Butt for McGregor (82 mins).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)