Shamrock Rovers cruise to victory in Gibraltar
FOUR GOALS: John McGovern of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring. Pic: Salva Castizo/Sportsfile
It was a sunshine stroll for Shamrock Rovers in Gibraltar on their European return as three second-half goals allows them to plan for a third-round tie in a fortnight.
Last season’s surge through the snakes and ladders Uefa structure entailed 16 matches, taking the Hoops into the knockout stages of the Conference League.
Their tilt at replicating that feat starts from a different and direct point but they looked every bit a team on a mission by dismantling St Joseph’s by the midway point of the tie.
Although Rovers were slow to build on Rory Gaffney’s 13th minute opener, occasionally presenting avenues for the minnows to threaten, three goals in the space of eight minutes puts the outcome beyond doubt before next Thursday’s return at Tallaght.
Presuming there’s no dramatic collapse on home soil, Stephen Bradley’s side will march on to face either Malta’s Floriana or Ballkani of Kosovo, with the latter leading 4-2 from Thursday’s first leg.
That deluge of goals stemmed from the contribution of substitutes introduced just past the hour.
Excellent skill by Jack Byrne on 67 minutes, three minutes after coming on, led to a crossfield pass which Josh Honohan latched onto before rifling a shot off the post. Danny Mandroiu converted the rebound, albeit thanks to a wicked deflection.
Two other subs, Michael Noonan and John McGovern, combined for the third, with the latter sweeping home from close range from a left-wing cross by his teenage strike partnership.
Byrne completed the rout two minutes later in trademark style, receiving a pass from Honohan in his stride on the edge of the box and curling a right-footer into the far corner beyond Bradley Banda.
More to follow…
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