Shamrock Rovers crack 10-man Cork City

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 0 (AET): At the end of a long night in Tallaght, Shamrock Rovers finally got the better of a gutsy Cork City to qualify for the EA Sports Cup final against Dundalk on September 16.

City had been reduced to 10 men before half-time with the sending off of skipper Alan Bennett, but the visitors showed tremendous spirit to frustrate the Hoops until almost the last minute of extra-time when substitute James Doona popped up with the winner as penalties beckoned.

In front of a paltry attendance, both sides struggled to generate much of a big match atmosphere in the early stages, the game almost entirely lacking in goalmouth incident until 17 minutes in when Connor Ellis, the man with the big job of filling Sean Maguire’s boots, failed to direct a close-range header on target after being found at the far post by a Stephen Dooley corner.