Shamrock R 4 Limerick 1:CIARAN KILDUFF scored twice to celebrate his first start of the season and help Shamrock Rovers through to the final of the League Cup. Rovers will meet Drogheda United on September 22nd at a venue to be decided.

While Rovers had the luxury of making nine changes to the side that won 2-0 at UCD on Friday night, every one of Limerick’s starting 11 had featured at some stage of their friendly with Manchester City just 24 hours before.

And while Limerick striker Denis Behan registered the first shot in anger when having an effort deflected for a corner, it was little surprise a fresher-looking Rovers took the lead on 24 minutes.

Billy Dennehy flicked on Conor Powell’s ball down the left to put Killian Brennan in the clear and his low cross ran across to the far post where Sean Gannon arrived to sweep home with his right foot.

Both sides had claims for a penalty just before half-time. Limerick’s Shane Tracy appeared to handle inside the area, before Behan was aggrieved at not getting a spot-kick after he felt he was taken down inside the area by Rovers’ goalkeeper Reyaard Pieterse.

Dennehy’s menace continued to threaten Limerick, and the winger provided the low cross from the left for Kilduff to shoot home to make it 2-0 on 66 minutes.

A mix-up between Limerick captain Pat Purcell and goalkeeper Barry Ryan then gifted Kilduff a simple tap-in 12 minutes later.

Midfielder Jeffrey Judge got Limerick’s consolation goal three minutes from time with a fine angled drive.

But Rovers had the final say when Dennehy got on to Kilduff’s through ball to beat Ryan for a fourth time two minutes into stoppage time.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pieterse; Gilbert, Oman, Hawkins, Powell; Gannon (Finn, 58 mins.), McCormack, Brennan (Rice, 78 mins.), Dennehy; Stewart (O‘Neill, 75 mins.), Kilduff.

LIMERICK: B. Ryan; Kelly, Purcell, Kluciar (Treacy, 48 mins.), Tracy; Judge, Bradley (O‘Brien, 72 mins.), Gamble, McGann (Gaffney, 56 mins.); Foley, Behan.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).