By Rory Houston
A Billy Dennehy hat-trick helped Shamrock Rovers reach the FAI Ford Cup quarter-finals as the Hoops blitzed 10-man UCD at the UCD Bowl.
Dennehy’s treble ensured Rovers enjoyed a comfortable night against the Students.
Michael Leahy was dismissed for a foul that led to the third Rovers goal in the 26th minute and a penalty for Gary McCabe, with Chris Turner and Gary O’Neill also on target.
Michael O’Neill side will meet Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds in the last eight.
Rovers made a bright start as Ciaran Kilduff flicked the ball on to Dennehy, whose shot connected with the hand of Michael Leahy and referee Dave McKeon pointed to the penalty spot.
The former Cork City player’s penalty was poor as Ger Barron got down low to save, but the ball rebounded to the winger to slot home and give Rovers the lead.
That goal shook the confidence of UCD and saw Rovers dominate possession for the next 10 minutes, without creating any clear-cut chances to double their advantage.
However, that was soon to change as the quality of Dennehy, Chris Turner and Kilduff began to cause UCD all sorts of problems.
Firstly, McCabe found O’Neill in the 18th minute as Leahy was forced to produce an important interception to stop Kilduff from scoring.
But the second goal was not long coming as a fine delivery from a corner by Dennehy allowed Turner to head home from eight yards and double the lead.
Kilduff should have made it three in the 24th minute as a clever move involving Turner and the striker sent the former UCD man clear on goal. The 22-year-old, who has struggled to find top form and gain a consistent run in the Rovers side, shot low and weak for an easy save for Barron.
The game was over as a contest shortly afterwards as a cross from Kilduff aimed at O’Neill saw Leahy pull down the Hoops man in front of goal.
Leahy was dismissed by referee Dave McKeon with a straight red card as last man.
Gary McCabe stepped up to take the penalty with Barron getting a strong hand to the ball, only to see it roll into the corner of the net.
The Students had a rare attacking venture soon afterwards as Robbie Creevy’s looping header was nabbed just under the crossbar by Richard Brush.
Kilduff should have made it four on 31 minutes as Dennehy’s pinpoint cross was headed just wide of the post from eight yards.
Brush produced a save of the highest order four minutes later as he pushed Paul Corry’s long-range effort over the crossbar.
However, Rovers continued to keep the pressure on the UCD defence as Chris Turner blazed over from close range with his left foot following a melee in the home side’s penalty area.
The excellent Dennehy added another goal three minutes before the break as Barron clawed Sean Gannon’s lob away from the goal, only for the Rovers winger to slam home the rebound from eight yards.
It was harsh on the UCD goalkeeper as the original save deserved better, but a four-goal lead at the break told a story of a half totally dominated by Michael O’Neill’s men.
Rovers enjoyed the luxury of time and space to pass the ball around the pitch in the opening minutes of the second half.
Ronan Finn tested Barron with a stinging shot from the edge of the area on 51 minutes and then Dennehy went close to completing a hat-trick two minutes later as a powerful drive from close to 30 yards struck the crossbar and went over.
McCabe came close to getting his name on the scoresheet five minutes after that as a cross by Jack Memery was missed by two UCD defenders and the ex-Sligo Rovers player’s shot on the half volley went just wide.
The Students made a rare venture forward in the 63rd minute as Creevy slipped in O’Conor on the right wing but Richard Brush came darting out from his goal to push the ball away.
Substitute Lorcan Shannon’s powerful cross was cleared away with 21 minutes left and then Ronan Finn saw his blast blocked on the edge of the area as Rovers kept pushing for goals.
The fifth goal did arrive as Paddy Kavanagh, brought on as right-back, found Dennehy in the penalty area to control the ball and ram it past Barron.
Darren Meenan forced Richard Brush into a smart save in the 76th minute from a strong drive from 20 yards and then Finn and Turner made Barron work from long-range efforts.
The game looked to be petering out but Rovers added a sixth goal in stoppage time as Gary O’Neill headed home Paddy Kavanagh’s cross to seal a memorable night for Shamrock Rovers.
UCD: Ger Barron, Sean Harding (Hugh Douglas 78), David O’Connor, Michael Leahy, Daniel Ledwith, Paul Corry, Robbie Creevy, Paul O’Conor, Robbie Benson, Graham Rusk (Tomas Boyle 28), Samir Belhout (Darren Meehan 52).
Subs not used: Mark McGinley, James Kavanagh, Chris Lyons, Dean Marshall.
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush, Pat Sullivan (Lorcan Shannon 61), Dan Murray, Sean Gannon, Jack Memery, Gary McCabe (Paddy Kavanagh 61), Chris Turner, Ronan Finn, Billy Denney (Karl Sheppard 88), Gary O’Neill, Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Craig Hyland, Craig Sives, Stephen Rice, Stephen O’Donnell.
Referee: Dave McKeon
Attendance: 860
