Shamrock Rovers survived an early scare to progress to the FAI Ford Cup quarter finals with a 3-1 win over UCD.

 

Ciaran Kilduff fired the students ahead within the opening quarter of an hour, but the Premier Division's second placed team showed composure and no little skill in bringing themselves back into the game and disposing of Martin Russell's side.

 

The hosts lost key centre half Craig Sives after just thirteen minutes and they went behind a minute later when Greg Bolger released Kilduff and the striker beat the advancing Barry Murphy to the ball, taking him past the 'keeper and he kept his cool to beat Darragh Maguire on the line.

 

But Rovers weren't too stunned and they were back on level terms ten minutes later, Dessie Baker taking a leaf out of Kilduff's book by taking his time after receiving Sean O'Connor's pass on the six yard box and he beat the goalkeeper and two defenders on the line to equalise.

 

Shane Robinson missed a chance to put his side in front but just after the half hour, Paddy Kavanagh marked his first start for the Hoops with a terrific goal, playing a one-two with Pat Flynn on the right wing before cutting onto his left foot and sending a superb shot beyond the reach of Billy Brennan and into the top corner.

 

College had chances to put themselves back in the game with Kilduff their main threat, the striker forced Murphy into a fine save before just firing over when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box. Baker did have a chance to give Rovers a third but his curling effort went wide of the post.

 

Baker put the matter beyond doubt just before the hour mark when he played a neat one-two with Kavanagh, took the ball past the advancing Brennan and from an almost impossible angle on the right with his right foot he managed to find the net with a brilliant finish.

 

Murphy was lucky to finish the match when he and Aidan Price got their wires crossed and he handled the ball outside his area with Kilduff lurking. Alan Kelly kindly showed a yellow card and Bolger fired the free over.

 

That was the end of the students' threat and Baker had a chance to complete the hattrick when Brennan brought O'Connor down in the area but the 'keeper brilliantly saved the striker's effort.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Murphy; Flynn, Maguire, Sives (Price 13), Cahill; Kavanagh, Robinson (Johnston 79), Bradley, O'Connor; Purcell (Cowan 79), Baker.

 

UCD: Brennan; Matthews, Boyle, E McMillan, Shortall; Reilly (Ward 59), Nagle, Bolger, McMillan (McMahon 59), Mulhall; Kilduff.

 

Referee: Alan Kelly.