Glentoran restore pride but fail to trouble Shamrock Rovers

Glentoran 0, Shamrock Rovers 0 (Rovers win 5-1 on aggregate)

Shamrock Rovers are through to the semi-finals of the Setanta Cup after a goalless draw in the Oval Stadium in Belfast ensured their progression on an aggregate 5-1 score line.

Rovers came into the game on the back of a 5-1 first-leg victory so it was imperative that Glentoran scored an early goal to breathe life into the affair, but the closest they came in an evenly contested first half was a Jim O’Hanlon drive that was well saved by Barry Murphy in the visitors net.

The Hoops had the better clear-cut chances with Glentoran goalkeeper Elliot Morris at his best to deny Eamon Zayed's fierce drive on the half hour mark, and then saved his team with another fine save from Dean Kelly just before half-time.

Greater conviction
The home side started the second half with greater conviction and only an excellent Barry Murphy denied the Glens an opening goal on as he went full length to deny Mark Clarke on 56 minutes.

Glentoran continued to press for an opening goal and Murphy was again called into action with 20 minutes to go as he got down to palm away Curtis Allen’s shot.

Dean Kelly had one further chance for Trevor Croly's men but was denied by Morris as the game petered out in the last 10 minutes. The northern side went some way to restoring the reputation of the Irish league but could not stop Shamrock Rovers who will now face Dundalk in the semi-final on Monday night next in Tallaght stadium.

GLENTORAN: Morris, Bradley, Birney (Nelson, 66 mins) , Garrett, Addis, O'Hanlon (Hughes, 62 mins), McAlorum, Clarke, McCaffrey (McKee, 41 mins), Stewart, Allen
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy, Madden, Kenna, Cornwall, Byrne (Kehoe, 84 mins), Robinson, McCabe (O'Connor, 62 mins), Kelly, Bayley, Sheppard, Zayed.
Referee: Mervyn Smith