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Dundalk 5 Shamrock Rovers 1
Monday, 13 September 2010 09:37
At 5-1 down, Shamrock Rovers fans sang that they were going to win the league. To do so they will have to improve hugely from this display, however, as Dundalk sweeped aside the league leaders with ease.

Much was made about the return of former Dundalk striker, Neale Fenn who left on acrimonious terms earlier this season, but it was the man
who took his number 10 shirt, Matthew Tipton who shone brightest, scoring a hat-trick.

In what was Dundalk's biggest win over Shamrock Rovers since their 4-0 thrashing in the 2002 FAI Cup winning season, the Lilywhites tore
through the Tallaght side all too easily.

Within three minutes, Dundalk had the ball in the back of the net. Ross Gaynor's free kick from the right hand side into the path of Tom
Miller was flicked in by the head of the Dundalk midfielder.

Miller's header was too strong for the grasp of Alan Mannus in the Rovers goal. Mannus got a hand to it, but it slipped through his reach
and nestled into the back of the net.

Rovers were stuttering early on and Dundalk went for the kill. Daniel Kearns tried his luck down the left hand side, crafting a
wonderful chance on 12 minutes, sliding the ball into the box. Tipton was ready to stab the ball home but Danny Murphy got ahead of him to
put it wide for a corner.

Rovers continued to struggle with Rice and Bradley failing to close down Dundalk's midfield. After 16 minutes,  2-0. Dean Bennett – who
had an outstanding game in the middle of the park, fired in a low cross from the right hand side.

Fahrudin Kuduzovic got a foot to it to kill it dead and with his second touch, he slid the ball off the inside of Mannus' post and into
the net.

Rovers were down and out and soon Dundalk made it 3-0.

Bennett caught Kavanagh napping in the middle of the park. He put a luring ball into the waiting feet of Kuduzovic, who in turn found
Hatswell at the back post. He knocked it down into the path of Tipton who got the slightest touch to knock it past Mannus for the third
goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Dundalk amazed themselves,  as they grabbed a fourth. A searching ball by Gaynor left Price wrongfooted at
the heart of the Rovers defence.

Tipton watched the flight of the ball perfectly and took his time, smashing it into the roof of the net for his second and Dundalk's
fourth.

Early in the second half, Dundalk nearly killed the game altogether as Kuduzovic's glancing header went just wide of the post.
Rovers got their first real chance of the game on 56 minutes.

Ex-Dundalk midfielder Chris Turner got through one-on-one with Cherrie, but the Lilywhites 'keeper was quick to smother the ball.

The Hoops did pull a goal back, a chance goal by Twigg. Aidan Price's pumping ball up the field bounced awkwardly in front of the advancing
Peter Cherrie 20 yards out from goal.  Keen to avoid handling it, the keeper' sidestepped it completely. It snuck past him and Gary Twigg
raced in behind him to finish it intp an open net.

On the 85th minute, Tipton finished the game, with a delicate chip over Mannus for his hat-trick and Dundalk's fifth.

Dundalk: Cherrie; Madden, G Breen, Burns, Hatswell; Kearns (Kelly, 81mins), Bennett, Miller, Gaynor; Tipton (Lennon, 87mins), Kuduzovic.
Subs: Kelly, McGuigan, McDonnell, J Breen, Lennon

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Flynn (Chambers 45mins), Sives, Price, Murphy;  Kavanagh, Rice, Bradley (Turner, 45mins), Dennehy, Twigg,
Fenn (Stewart 60) Subs: Chambers, O'Connor, Turner, Stewart, Byrne

Ref: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
 
 
 
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