O'Donnell strike enough to see lacklustre Rovers through

Shamrock Rovers 1 Limerick 0:SHAMROCK ROVERS are through to the next round but they struggled to an unconvincing 1-0 win over a seriously-depleted Limerick in last night's disappointing FAI Ford Cup second-round tie at Tallaght Stadium.

A 68th-minute goal from substitute Stephen O’Donnell separated the sides, with the sending-off of substitute Paudie Quinn completing a less-than-memorable evening for the Division One side.

It was the visitors who enjoyed the brighter opening and they could have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute, but Rory Gaffney saw his goalbound shot blocked on the line by Killian Brennan.

Gary McCabe responded well for the 24-time winners as, after his initial corner-kick was cleared, he delivered an inviting cross that Craig Sives glanced narrowly wide in the 13th minute.

Five minutes later, McCabe raced clear after a one-two with Gary Twigg but his measured cross into the path of Gary O’Neill was hammered wastefully over the crossbar from six yards.

The remainder of the half was punctuated by errant play with Gaffney warming Oscar Jansson’s hands with a powerful drive in the 37th minute while Gary McCabe shot straight at Ryan when well placed a minute later.

After the lack of drama in the opening half, the restart opened up with a genuine penalty shout for Limerick in the 47th minute, with Sives’ hand appearing to block Pat Purcell’s pass inside the area. However, referee Anthony Buttimer waved away their appeals.

The deadlock was broken when two substitutes combined, with Daryl Kavanagh’s drive only half-repelled by Ryan into the path of O’Donnell who finished with ease.

Quinn’s sending-off for an innocuous-looking challenge on Kerrea Gilbert just a minute after being introduced to the game effectively ended their challenge as the Hoops held on to their lead without any great alarm.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Gilbert, Sives, Gartland, Powell; McCabe (McCormack, 90 mins), Rice, Brennan (ODonnell, 60 mins), Dennehy; ONeill (Kavanagh, 54 mins), Twigg.

LIMERICK: Ryan; Kelly, Purcell, Guthrie (Daly, 82 mins), S Treacy; C Treacy, OLeary, McGann, Coughlan (Bradley, 69 mins), McGrath (Quinn, 75 mins); Gaffney.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).