Bohemian FC Bray Wanderers Drogheda United Dundalk Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers St. Patricks Ath Athlone Town Finn Harps Cork City Derry SD Galway Limerick FC Longford Town Mervue Utd Monaghan United Shelbourne UCD Waterford United Wexford Youths
 
 
 
Purcell double helps Hoops through
A goal to the good at the break followed by two more late on in the match saw Shamrock Rovers ease past a Drogheda side whose performance never reached the level they attained in the original fixture on Saturday night last.

The home side enjoyed much the better of the opening exchanges as James Chambers drove over the bar, Gavin Whelan fired into the side netting from a good position and Conor Kenna’s long-range effort was off target.

With twenty minutes gone Ian Bermingham pushed up from the back for Rovers but saw his snap shot turned out for a corner by keeper Paul Skinner.  And from the resulting kick Gary Twigg volleyed narrowly over as the visitors began to assert themselves.

The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes when Tadhg Purcell raced down the right and crossed for Dessie Baker who guided his header past Skinner to the net.

Drogheda went close to levelling matters within four minutes when Chambers corner from the right found the inrushing Kenna who unchallenged sent his header wide.

Before the break United troubled Rovers at the back once more, however, Brian King’s fine effort from almost thirty yards was well watched and held by net minder Barry Murphy.

The second half was for the most part a disjointed scrappy affair punctuated with numerous stoppages and passages of disjointed play.  This suited Rovers as Drogheda huffed and puffed throughout without ever seriously threatening an equaliser.

Seven minutes from time the Hoops sealed their passage to the next round when Sean O’Connor turned defender Ian Ryan before setting up Tadhg Purcell who drove his shot home.

Sixty seconds from the end a  punt up field by keeper Murphy ran straight through to Purcell who had the easiest of tasks stroking the ball past Skinner to complete a good night’s work for Rovers.

Drogheda:  Skinner, Ryan, Clarke (Osborne 73), Kenna, Shiels, Crowley, Chambers, Whelan (Salmon 85), O’Connor, Duffy, King (Barrett 64). 

Shamrock Rovers:  Murphy, Bermingham, Treacy, Price, Sives, Cameron, Rice, O’Connor, Purcell (Cowan 90), Twigg (Robinson 78), Baker. 

Referee:  P. Tuite (Dublin)
 
 
 
Website Disclaimer

The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. The Football Association of Ireland endeavours to keep the information up to date and correct. Fixtures data may change and whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information displayed on this website is correct and up to date, we are not liable for any errors. The Football Association of Ireland takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.