Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Dundalk
Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk will have to meet again after playing out a 0-0 draw at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night in the quarter-finals of the FAI Ford Cup.
Richie Towell, Kurtis Byrne and Daryl Horgan all went close for the visitors, while Karl Sheppard had the best of the chances for the Dublin side in an even contest.
The sides will contest the EA Cup final next Saturday.
Two years to the day since he was sacked by Shamrock Rovers, Stephen Kenny brought his treble-chasing Dundalk side to Tallaght in search of a poignant victory.
Both sides started nervously, with the home side picking up the first chance through centre-back Jason McGuinness.
The big defender had the goal at his mercy, but couldn’t control his feet quickly enough to get his shot away as the Dundalk defence dealt with the chance well.
The visitors hit back through Daryl Horgan minutes later who hit a curling effort just wide of the helpless Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.
Rovers did have the ball in the Dundalk goal after 20 minutes, only to see Sheppard’s header from a Patrick Cregg free-kick ruled out after a foul on a Dundalk defender.
As the first half wore on the pressure increased from Rovers - who are looking for their first FAI Cup in 27 years.
Dundalk almost took the lead against the run of play just after the half hour mark when Towell ran on to the end of a Sean Gannon pass, but Murphy got down smartly to keep him out.
Moments later Donal McDermott had his chance at glory for Dundalk but his free-kick sailed over.
The momentum swung back in favour of Shamrock Rovers just before the interval as they had two golden chances to take the lead - both through Sheppard.
The striker saw a goal chalked off as his chipped shot was ruled out for offside, much to the anger of the home support.
Minutes later, Sheppard couldn’t get on the end of a dangerous Ronan Finn cross as it bobbled wide, but the home side had definitely ended the half the happier.
The second half proved more tentative than the first, with Dundalk proving a tough nut to crack for Shamrock Rovers.
Both sides threatened from crosses but neither was able to capitalise on the chances, with Shamrock Rovers finding it particularly hard to get any sort of loose change from the Dundalk defence.
Dundalk did create decent chances and on the hour mark David McMillan wriggled away from the Rovers back four and bent in a cross, but again the impressive Murphy got down quickly to save it.
The best chance of the game came from substitute Kurtis Byrne. The midfielder made a smart run behind the Shamrock Rovers defence after good combination play from McMillan and Meenan found him all alone with the goal gaping, but his shot trickled wide after beating Murphy.
Shamrock Rovers kicked on after that scare and the home side went close in the last few minutes, with Waters and substitute Dean Kelly going close.
John Mountney entered the fray for the last few minutes of the game and went close for Dundalk but his shot from outside the box flew over.
Dundalk forced the issue in the final stages, with man of the match Daryl Horgan nearly beating Murphy from an audacious free-kick which he was forced to tip over.
The corner which followed saw Boyle direct a shot towards goal, but the marvellous Murphy pulled of a fantastic save to keep Dundalk out and set up a third meeting between the sides in eight days.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Luke Byrne; Shane Robinson, Patrick Cregg, Ronan Finn; Kieran Marty Waters (Ciaran Kilduff, 88), Karl Sheppard (Dean Kelly, 66), Gary McCabe (Ryan Brennan, 74).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Donal McDermott (Kurtis Byrne, 54), Chris Shields; Darren Meenan(John Mountney, 83), David McMillian (Patrick Hoban, 74), Daryl Horgan.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
