Hoops fire four to go back top

INSPIRED by two goals each from Gary Twigg and James Chambers, Shamrock Rovers moved back to the top of the Airtricity Premier Division with a comprehensive victory over an outclassed Dundalk in yesterday’s rearranged clash at Tallaght Stadium.

It was the perfect boost for manager Michael O’Neill as his team now prepare for Thursday’s Europa League second-qualifying round tie at home to Israeli side Bnei Yehuda.

For Dundalk, who had twice beaten Rovers earlier in the season, it looks like an awesome challenge when they travel to Bulgaria to meet Levski Sofia in their Europa League second round game, also on Thursday.

Only several excellent saves by veteran keeper Matt Gregg enabled Dundalk not to suffer an even heavier defeat as their porous defence was carved open with regularity by a goal-hungry Hoops attack.

Dundalk did have one early chance when a 25-yard free kick from Ross Gaynor struck the woodwork and rebounded to safety with keeper Alan Mannus beaten. Thereafter Rovers took full control of proceedings.

Twice Twigg was denied by brave saves from Gregg before the in-form Scottish striker saw another effort taken off the line by defender Wayne Hatswell.

But Rovers were not to be denied and broke the deadlock on the half-hour when a through ball from Stephen Rice was only partially headed away by Hatswell. Chambers was able to collect the ball, cut inside and fired into the corner of the net.

Twigg made up for his early misses when he bundled the ball over the line from close range on 35 minutes after Gregg, under pressure from Thomas Stewart, missed a corner from Paddy Kavanagh on the right.

A minute later Twigg had his second goal when Dundalk midfielder Alan Cawley lost possession to Stewart who was able to supply the opening for Twigg to fire past Gregg from 12 yards.

Rovers had a fourth goal as Chambers got his second on the hour when Chris Turner provided the pass for the midfielder to fire in a shot which Gregg could only push onto the crossbar with the ball rebounding over the goal-line.

It was no more than Rovers deserved with their biggest league win of the season and to the delight of the 3,309 home fans they are now a point ahead of St Patrick’s Athletic.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Stevens; Chambers, Rice (Bayly 71), Turner Kavanagh (O’Connor 64); Twigg (Barrett 69), Stewart.

DUNDALK: Gregg; Kelly, Hatswell, Miller; Murphy (McGuigan 45); Mulvenna (McGowan 57), Cawley, Maher, McDonnell; Gaynor, Fenn.

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).