Rovers batter students to stay top

Shamrock Rovers 4 UCD 1

Kerryman Billy Dennehy was the star of the show as Shamrock Rovers beat ten man UCD at Tallaght stadium to extend their unbeaten league run to 15 games as they maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.

Rovers were gifted the lead on five minutes when UCD midfielder Greg Bolger was robbed by Stephen Bradley who scored with a delightful curling shot from the edge of the area.

College hit back to level through Ciaran Kilduff on 26mins when he took the ball off Hoops’ skipper Dan Murray to score with the aid of a deflection.

Dennehy restored Rovers’ lead on 43mins, his intended cross dipping into the net.

UCD had defender Brian Shortall sent off on 50mins for a bad foul on Dennehy who then crossed superbly for Gary Twigg to head home his 13th league goal of the season on 62mins.

Murray added Rovers’ fourth on 77 minutes with a header from man-of-the-match Dennehy’s corner.