Sheppard goal earns Rovers victory

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:

The hosts made an impressive opening and could well have scored in the fourth minute but James Chambers’ 20-yard shot was directed too close to Barry Ryan, who saved comfortably.

Within six minutes, Ryan was again called into action, back-pedalling to great effect when deflecting a Conor Powell shot from 30 yards over the crossbar as the hosts monopolised possession in the early stages.

Despite their territorial inferiority, the visitors carved upon the home defence in the 18th minute with a surging run from Patrick Nzuzi finding Danny Galbraith in front of goal but Richard Brush advanced smartly to block his goal-bound attempt.

After Stephen Rice had spurned a glorious chance in the 29th minute when shooting over from four yards following a glorious centre by Karl Sheppard, the hosts’ pressure was rewarded a minute later.

The goal arrived in a simple fashion with Sheppard eluding his marker to deftly flick home at the near post from Chambers’ in-swinging corner-kick.

The second-half resumed with Rovers lacking the fluidity of the opening-half and Limerick could well have levelled in the 53rd minute as Rory Gaffney outfoxed Derek Foran but his low shot was easily smothered by Brush.

That elusive second goal almost arrived five minutes as a well-worked free-kick routine involving Finn and Rice saw the latter crash a deflected shot narrowly wide of Ryan’s right-hand upright from 25 yards.

Despite a degree of late pressure, the visitors failed to create a chance of note and their disappointment was compounded by the dismissal of Jeffrey Judge for a stamp on Rice in injury time.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush; McCormack, Oman, Foran, Powell; O’Connor (Stewart, 89), Chambers (Sullivan, 86), Finn, Rice, Dennehy; Sheppard (Kilduff, 59).

LIMERICK: Ryan; Costello (Sheedy, 73), Williams, Foran, Nzuzi; Treacy, Galbraith (Rainsfort, 67), O’Leary (Judge, 87), Bradley, Bossekota; Gaffney.

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)