Shamrock Rovers increased their advantage at the top of the eircom League First Division with a 2-0 victory over Athlone Town at Tolka Park tonight.
Rovers controlled the game from the start and could have been two up within the first ten minutes, with David Cassidy coming close and a fine Robert Forde save denying Gerard Rowe who was one-on-one with the Athlone keeper.
The Hoops took the lead after 33 minutes when a speculative shot from Tadhg Purcell was only parried by Forde and Rowe was on hand to slot the ball into an empty net.
The second arrived 12 minutes after the restart when Cassidy ran on to a superb through ball from Mark O’Brien and drilled the ball home from the edge of the box to seal the points.
The Hoops had chances to finish the game off, with substitute Andy Myler coming close only seconds after coming on for Jamie Duffy and fellow striker Purcell also nearly extending the Hoops’ lead.
Athlone rallied late on and could easily have pegged the Hoops back after a cracking Des Hope strike whizzed past the upright.
A minute later, substitute Noel Magee had keeper Barry Murphy beaten but Shane Guthrie was on hand to clear off the line.
Disaster struck for Guthrie moments later when he was on the end of a late tackle and had to be stretchered off the pitch to hospital.
Overall, the Hoops were worth their victory and now open a healthy four-point lead at the top of the table.
