Shamrock Rovers 7 Dundalk 0SHAMROCK Rovers knocked seven past a hapless Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium last night to give new director of football Brian Laws the first league points of his reign.

Shortly before the half hour mark a Rovers corner was cleared only as far as Ronan Finn. The midfielder took a touch before smacking a 25-yard effort into the bottom left corner of the net.

Three minutes later Dundalk’s defensive frailties were more fully exposed as Killian Brennan’s free was allowed to sail unimpeded to the feet of Ken Oman who touched it over the line.

A third goal in added time at the end of the half was he pick of the bunch. Gary McCabe played a precise through ball to Finn who played it across goal for Ciarán Kilduff to steer past Peter Cherrie from five yards out.

The second half provided more of the same and on 59 minutes John Mountney’s handball offered McCabe a penalty which he delivered low and to Cherrie’s right.

A foul by Paul Whelan on Kilduff provided McCabe with a second penalty on 66 minutes which he converted confidently. Them intercepting a loose back pass by substitute Stephen McDonnell, Gary Twigg finished off the inside of Cherrie’s post on 70 minutes, before blasting Finn’s through ball into the roof of the net a minute later.

It was to be the final nail in Dundalk’s coffin and sealed an emphatic victory by the Hoops.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:Jansson; Gannon, Sives (Greene 68), Hawkins (Oman 21), Powell; McCabe (Dennehy 82), Finn, Rice, Brennan; Twigg, Kilduff.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Mountney, Burns, Whelan, Osborne; Walsh, Maher, Shields, O'Brien (Conlon 64), Murphy (S McDonnell 64); Rafter (McKenna 79).

Referee: Damien Hancock.