Shamrock Rovers kept up their pursuit of the leading pack in the Premier Division with a good victory over struggling Kilkenny City at Scanlon Park yesterday. "It wasn't particularly pretty football, but the conditions didn't allow that," admitted Rovers boss Damien Richardson. "Still, we are very happy with the victory, which was badly needed after the results elsewhere this weekend."
Rovers were put on the road to victory in the 18th minute when Sean Francis put them in front. A neat pass from Pat Deans split the home defence and Francis raced through to prod the ball under the advancing goalkeeper Matt Nelson.
Paul McAreavey nearly equalised for Kilkenny in the 23rd minute, but his firm header came back into play off a crossbar following a free by Richie Purdy.
The home side went close again in the 34th minute, but this time Warren Parkes' effort came back into play off an upright. Rovers grabbed their second goal in the 47th minute and then settled into a composed routine. The ball broke to Terry Palmer at the back post and he drilled high into the net. In the 55th minute Tony Grant headed home a corner from Shane Robinson. Sean Francis wrapped up the scoring from the penalty spot in the 80th minute after he was brought down.
KILKENNY CITY: M Nelson; R Purdy, R Brunton, G Wilkinson, G O'Hanlon, G Johnston, S Murphy, D McGrath, M O'Byrne, W Parkes, P McAreavy. Subs: D Brennan for O'Hanlon (33 mins), B O'Neill for McGrath (58 mins), R Roos for Parkes (78 mins).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: R Horgan; P Vaudequin, B Woods, G Cronin, T Palmer, J Calwell, P Deans, S Robinson, S Francis, T Grant, B Byrne. Subs: T Dunne for Byrne (82 mins), C Daly for Robinson (86 mins).
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
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