Rovers are head over heels with cup result
By Hayden Moore
THE DRIVE for a first FAI Cup title in 32 years began for Shamrock Rovers under Friday night lights in Tallaght Stadium last week with a tetchy 1-0 win over Finn Harps.
Graham Burke started as a central striker on his return to the club on loan from Preston North End, but it was Dan Carr’s goal in the first half that provided the encounter’s only goal.
Shamrock Rovers Dan Carr is head over heels following his goal against Finn Harps (Photo by David Kiberd)
Carr burst in behind the Harps defence 22 minutes into the game to meet a clipped ball over the top from captain Ronan Finn and with that, took it down with one touch on his right boot and found net with his second touch off the left.
With the league seeming like a forgone conclusion at this point for Stephen Bradley’s side as Dundalk sit atop of the division in control, he fielded a strong side in an attempt to kickstart an attempt to bring in some silverware.
Having struck the woodwork earlier in the game through Finn, the Hoops squandered several opportunities to add to their lead when Burke and Aaron Green missed a number of chances.
The home team were almost made to rue their missed chances when Nathan Boyle came close for the struggling Premier Division side with a shot that was tipped onto the crossbar by ‘goalkeeper Alan Manus.
Rovers pursuit for a 25th FAI Cup will continue at the end of the month when they face Drogheda United over the weekend of August 25.
The Hoops are the most successful side in the tournament’s history by some margin, with Dundalk the nearest having won it 11 times, but are yet to reach a final since 2010 or win it since 1987.
In the meantime, Bradley and his team will turn their attentions back to the league where they will travel up to the Brandywell Stadium on Friday night to take on Derry City before travelling to the opposite end of the country to challenge Waterford on Monday.
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