A man-of-the-match performance by midfielder Ronan Finn inspired Shamrock Rovers to a Setanta Sports Cup Final victory over Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.

The marauding Finn performed the spadework on 65 minutes by driving into the box to tee up his former Sporting Fingal colleague Gary O’Neill for the opener, which was added to by Billy Dennehy’s stoppage time second.

Dundalk had their chances to go ahead before the hour mark but once Rovers nudged in front, they controlled proceedings and dominated the attacks.

Granted, Mark Quigley was denied by Alan Mannus late on yet the Hoops kept their composure to kill off any possible revival.

Despite losing the talented Stephen O’Donnell to injury after just nine minutes, Dundalk matched Rovers in the midfield area and Jason Byrne was presented with a decent opening on 16 minutes when he latched onto a Ross Gaynor cross and drilled wide.

Quigley’s free-kick forced Mannus to tip over as the Louthmen began to click while Rovers set-piece specialist Dennehy crashed his attempt off the upright three minutes before the break.

Finn’s growing influence on the game was evident shortly after the turnaround with his trademark surging runs from deep a concern for Dundalk. Peter Cherrie did well to foil Finn’s 52nd minute shot.

Jason Byrne’s injury-enforced substitution close to the hour was another blow which Dundalk boss Ian Foster could have done without and he was soon rallying his troops after they conceded on 65 minutes.

Finn capitalised on some hesitancy by Michael Hector inside the box to roam into space, skip past the challenge of Greg Bolger and square the ball for O’Neill to first-time smash high into the net.

Remarkably, it was O’Neill’s first goal for Rovers since joining in February but perhaps destiny determined his duck would be broken on the ground where his late winner claimed the FAI Ford Cup for Fingal less than two years ago.

Dennehy’s attempted cross clipped the Dundalk crossbar twelve minutes from time and the Kerryman squandered a great chance to seal it soon after when O’Neill’s dummy from substitute Gary McCabe’s cross provided an opportunity he drove off-target.

Substitute Gary Twigg might have also netted late on had the post not denied him but Dennehy had better luck with the woodwork at the death when his shot was pushed onto the upright only to creep over the goal-line.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hawkins, Hector, Murphy; Kearns, McDonnell (Bennett 9), Bolger, Quigley, Gaynor (Breen 86); Byrne (Ward 59).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens; Finn, Rice (Twigg 64), McCormack, Dennehy; O’Neill, Sheppard (McCabe 78).

 Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).