Rovers on a roll as Shels stuffed

Shamrock Rovers took full advantage of a slapstick display from Shelbourne to cruise to an emphatic 4-0 win in their Premier Division encounter at Tallaght Stadium last night.

The visitors had previously enjoyed an unbeaten start to the league but they received a rude awakening within four minutes as Billy Dennehy was upended by Dean Delany, who was sent off. Gary Twigg fired his penalty past replacement goalkeeper Paul Skinner for his fourth league goal of the campaign.

Although Philip Hughes was narrowly wide with a 25-yard free-kick minutes later, there was little doubting the title holders’ supremacy and their lead was doubled in bizarre fashion on the half hour as Stephen Hurley’s backpass rolled untouched to the net with, replacement goalkeeper Paul Skinner 30 yards from his goal.