Soccer

Karl Sheppard fires Shamrock Rovers into FAI Cup semi-final

Late goals from substitute stun Dundalk at Oriel Park

Karl Sheppard is congratulated by Simon Madden after scoring for Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park last night. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho.
Karl Sheppard is congratulated by Simon Madden after scoring for Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park last night. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho.
Mon Sept 15 2014 - 22:05

Dundalk 1 Shamrock Rovers 2: Karl Sheppard sprang from the bench to end Dundalk's treble hopes and keep Shamrock Rovers' quest for a 25th FAI Cup alive as they booked their place in the semi-finals with a dramatic quarter-final replay win at Oriel Park.

Pat Fenlon’s men looked to be limping out of the competition as the game approached the final 10 minutes. Trailing to Patrick Hoban’s 17th goal of the season, Rovers looked bereft of ideas in the final third for most of the game.

That all changed in the 81st minute when Sheppard raced onto Sean O’Connor’s through ball to level the tie and seven minutes later he picked up a deflection off Richie Towell to cut into the Dundalk box and stun Oriel Park.

The home side looked positive in the early stages but it was the visitors who had the best chance of the opening half an hour. It came from a move that opened Dundalk up on the right. Ronan Finn set Sean O’Connor up perfectly but the Rovers number 10 saw his curling effort brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Peter Cherrie.

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The tie needed a goal to kickstart it into life and it came the home side’s way after 41 minutes. Darren Meenan sent in a delicious free kick from the right and with the Rovers defence heading the opposite way, Hoban found himself in acres of space to head home his fourth goal of the season against the Tallaght side.

The second half was less than three minutes old when the same duo combined again. This time it was a Meenan corner from the left, Hoban seeing his close range header tipped over the top by Murphy.

Dundalk cranked up the pressure and both Hoban and Andy Boyle were denied by Murphy in quick succession, Meenan again supplying the ammunition.

Rovers looked like their wait for an FAI Cup win would stretch to 28 years but they were thrown a lifeline when Sheppard, who had been introduced four minutes earlier, beat the offside trap to casually slip the ball past Cherrie.

The game looked destined for extra-time but the home crowd was stunned into silence when Sheppard took possession on the right and cut into the Dundalk penalty area before setting himself for an effort that beat Cherrie and sparked a pitch invasion by the Rovers fans. DUNDALK: Cherrie; Gannon, Boyle, Rossiter (Higgins 88), Massey; Towell, Shields; Meenan (McMillan 81), Byrne (Mountney 67), Horgan; Hoban. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, Kenna, McGuinness, Byrne; Brennan (Waters 53), Cregg, Robinson (McPhail 62), Finn, O'Connor; Kelly (Sheppard 77). Referee: Dave McKeon (Meath).