Shamrock Rovers made it to the last four of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup on with a 4-2 win over Bluebell on Friday night. They were always the better side at Tallaght, but Leinster Senior League side showed great character to keep themselves in the
Shamrock Rovers made it to the last four of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup on with a 4-2 win over Bluebell on Friday night.
They were always the better side at Tallaght, but Leinster Senior League side showed great character to keep themselves in the game until the last ten minutes.
The sides had a chance each inside the opening ten minutes. The energetic Aaron Bolger shot just over from the edge of the box for Rovers, before his namesake Robison hit an effort straight at Tomer Chencinski from twenty yards.
Rovers took the lead after 21 minutes. Brandon Miele was allowed far too much space on the edge of the box, and he shot across Andy McNulty into the far left corner. There wasn't much any keeper could have done to stop it flying in.
But the lead only lasted 90 seconds. Gary Seery got on the end of a dangerous Dean Ebbe cross from the left, to send the 'home' support into raptures. Rovers were beginning to dominate however as the half wore on, and they were rewarded just before the break.
Again it was Miele, and again it was from outside the box, but McNulty might feel he could have done more to stop this one as it flew straight over his his head and into the top right corner.
Rovers were two up inside 10 minutes of the second-half. This time it was a team goal, as Madden and O'Connor played their part in the build up play, before Ryan Connolly finished smartly from eight yards.
Against the run of play, Shane Stritch brought Bluebell back into it. He finished from a cross from the right, in a similar manner to their first goal. And with just under 20 minutes left on the clock, this game was very much back on.
Within seven minutes however, the tie was sealed. Firstly, Bluebell captain Anthony Griffiths was sent off for a second yellow, after coming through the back of Madden. Then, Miele completed his hatrick with a smart finish from close range. And that's how it stayed, as Shamrock Rovers qualified for the FAI Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2014.
