Shamrock Rovers 1 Shelbourne 0

Shamrock Rovers nervously got the better of their Dublin rivals at Tallaght Stadium last nightwith the late confirmation of Johnny McDonnell as Shelbourne's new manager failing to inspire his new charges as they slipped to their 11th league defeat of the season.

Admittedly, the visitors’ cause was not helped by a lengthy injury list and Dean Memery and Brian Shortall missing through suspension.

The Reds started brightly however, Robert Bayly testing Barry Murphy in the 5th minute with a pedestrian home side failing to create any chance of note prior to a Jason McGuinness header that flew narrowly wide in the 23rd minute.

However, tensions were eased six minutes later as a patient build-up saw Karl Sheppard outstrip Graham Gartland before teeing up Ronan Finn who fired low across Ger Hanley from 14 yards.

The former UCD player almost grabbed a second within three minutes but his low shot was directed too close to Hanley who saved easily.

The hosts disappointed in the second half and former Hoop Dean Kelly should have equalised in injury-time but he scuffed a glorious chance wide from close range.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; McCormack, Foran, McGuinness, Powell; O'Connor (McCabe, 79), Finn, Rice, Chambers (Robinson, 85), Stewart; Sheppard (Kilduff, 77).
SHELBOURNE: Hanley; Cornwall, Ryan, Gartland, Flynn; Hurley, Sheerin (Hughes, 69), Bayly, Brennan, Hanlon; Leech (Kelly, 53).
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).