Shamrock Rovers 0-4 Tottenham

By Glenn Mason

The Michael O'Neill era at Shamrock Rovers ended in defeat as Tottenham Hotspur coasted to a 4-0 Europa League victory at Tallaght Stadium.

First half strikes from Stephen Pienaar, Andros Townsend and Jermain Defoe gave Spurs a commanding lead at half-time.

Rovers were brighter after the break but could not find a way to end O'Neill's reign with a goal. Substitute Harry Kane tapped in a fourth late on for the visitors.

The defeat leaves Rovers bottom of Group A with six defeats from six games, but the season will still go down as one of the most memorable in their history.

The victory was not enough for Spurs to overcome PAOK and Rubin Kazan and they follow Rovers out of the competition, leaving them free to concentrate on the Premier League title challenge.

O'Neill leaves the Hoops after three successful years and back-to back Premier Division titles. It was also the end of an era for numerous players that are out of contract, while Enda Stevens is making the step up in class with Aston Villa.

On a bitterly cold night in Tallaght, Karl Sheppard was the lone man up front for Rovers, who made just the one change from the game in Kazan. Richard Brush replaced Ryan Thompson in goal.

Harry Redknapp made several changes from the side that lost to Stoke City at the weekend. Yet, his team still contained the likes of Carlo Cudicini, Niko Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe, as well as promising winger Andros Townsend.

Sheppard's intelligent runs had caused Spurs problems early on and he forced Jake Livermore into a foul on the right wing. Billy Dennehy's free-kick was not cleared by Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Ken Oman's snapshot flew wide.

Spurs had coasted through the opening 20 minutes but sprang to life with two chances in quick succession.

First, Defoe and Giovani Dos Santos linked up outside the box, but Defoe's shot was easily saved by Brush. Stevens was alert at the back post to clear Danny Rose's cross under pressure from Sandro.

Rovers' early promise had receded by the time Pienaar put the visitors ahead on 29 minutes. The South African's strike from the corner of the box went through Jim Paterson's legs and beyond Brush's reach.

Spurs could have doubled their lead moments later as Rovers pushed forward. Giovani broke away at pace but his cross was too strong for Defoe.

They did not have to wait long for a second as Townsend whipped Defoe's lay-off past Brush into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Defoe got in on the act just before the half-time whistle. Townsend tore Rovers apart down the left and picked out the striker, whose shot took a nick off Stevens on its way in.

Rovers were lively after the break as Livermore blocked Pat Sullivan's shot and Cudicini gathered Dennehy's bouncing shot at the second attempt.

Livermore was fortunate to stay on the pitch when he bundled Sheppard to the ground as the striker bore down on goal.

Substitute Stephen O'Donnell then had Cudicini scrambling across goal with a daisycutter that fizzed narrowly wide.

In an increasingly open game, Brush bundled Sandro's speculative effort wide for a corner and Dan Murray blocked another Townsend shot.

At the other end, Younes Kaboul survived a penalty appeal after a challenge on Sheppard as Rovers sought a late consolation.

Chris Turner went close to getting on the scoresheet when his glancing header from Dennehy's cross flew across goal and wide.

Spurs peppered the Rovers goal towards the end as they sought a dramatic passage into knockout stages.

Substitute Iago Falque went close as he jinked his way inside and drilled a shot that hit the inside of the post and bounced away to safety.

Cudicini denied Sullivan a chance to repeat his Belgrade heroics as he parried away the defender's firm strike.

Brush was eventually beaten for a fourth time in the last minute as Townsend nodded Rose's cross down for Kane to tap home.

It was not enough for Redknapp and his team, as PAOK and Rubin got the point they needed to secure a place in the last 32.

Tonight brought down the curtain on a dramatic but rewarding season for Rovers, which has seen them in Tallinn, Copenhagen, Belgrade, London, Thessaloniki and Kazan.

The immediate future may be uncertain but past eight months will live long in the memory for those associated with the club.

Shamrock Rovers: 1 Brush; 2 Sullivan, 5 Murray, 17 Oman, 3 Stevens; 20 Dennehy, 6 Rice (8 O'Donnell h/t), 18 Turner, 21 Finn (9 Twigg '57), 26 Paterson; 10 Sheppard (11 Kilduff '75).

Subs not used: 16 Thompson, 7 McCabe, 19 O'Neill, 27 Ricketts.

Booked: Murray,

Tottenham Hotspur: 23 Cudicini; 25 Rose, 29 Livermore, 4 Kaboul, 32 Assou-Ekotto (27 Falque '84); 40 Pienaar, 30 Sandro, 21 Kranjcar, 31 Townsend, 17 Dos Santos, 18 Defoe (37 Kane '76).

Subs not used: 1 Gomes, 46 Carroll.

Booked: Kranjcar, Pienaar,

Referee: Stephan Studer (Switzerland).