Rovers’ easy passage against Distillery

SHAMROCK ROVERs eased their way to the Setanta Cup semi-finals by beating Irish League side Distillery in last night’s quarter-final, second leg at Tallaght Stadium.

Distillery took a shock lead on 14 minutes when striker Gary Liggett scored.

Karl Sheppard and Stephen O’Donnell had shots blocked on the line in quick succession as Rovers enjoyed a monopoly of the attacking positions. And they equalised on 42 minutes when striker Ciaran Kilduff rounded keeper Billy Brennan to plant his shot in the net from an angle.

Rovers had their noses in front two minutes after the interval when Stephen Rice fired home from 12 yards. However brave Distillery were level on 56 minutes when Liggett had his second goal.

But Paddy Kavanagh was to have the final say for Rovers with two goals in the final 10 minutes.

Joining Rovers in the semi-finals, the draw for which will be made in Belfast today, will be Dundalk and Cliftonville and either Sligo Rovers or Portadown.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Doyle, Flynn, Murray (Sullivan 63), McCormack; Sheppard, Rice, O’Donnell, Kavanagh; Kelly (Finn 73), Kilduff.

LISBURN DISTILLERY: Brennan; Devlin, Muir, Simpson, McShane (Traynor 61); Forsythe, Davidson, Kilmartin, Cushley (Patton 66); Browne (Hughes 79), Liggett.

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).