Misery for Rovers as City clinch promotion

Dublin City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1 (Dublin City win 3-2 on agg)

Shamrock Rovers’ season hit rock bottom at Tolka Park tonight as they were relegated for the first time in the club’s history.

They failed to overturn a 2-1 first leg defeat in what was a tense promotion/relegation playoff.

Dublin City thus bounce back up to the eircom League Premier Division having been relegated themselves 12 years ago.

Despite dominating the first half, Rovers really didn’t create a clear-cut opening.

They were made to pay within seven minutes of the restart when Vikings went in front on the night. Ray Scully did well to cut in from the right, skipper Trevor Vaughan laid off his pass to Robbie Collins, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

But Rovers responded to level within three minutes when Mark Rutherford’s cross was miscued by Tony Sheridan before Derek Tracey shot home off a post.

Rovers huffed and puffed for the remainder of the match with veteran midfielder Tracey coming closest to forcing extra-time.

That came just a minute from the end of normal time when Tracey flashed a header wide from captain Trevor Molloy’s cross.