Bradley joy over clean sheet ahead of Milan tie
ROVERS boss Stephen Bradley was delighted with his team’s routine 3-0 league win over relegation-threatened Cork City at Turner’s Cross yesterday.
Two first-half goals from man of the match Aaron Greene and a late third from substitute Neil Farrugia sealed the Hoops’ victory and eased them eight points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table.
‘We knew it would take a big performance to win at Turner’s Cross. We picked up hard-won points in our Dublin derbies and we have a good points tally now.
‘We knew the Cork game was an important one and I am delighted with the outcome and the clean sheet,’ said Bradley.
‘We didn’t allow Cork to get a foothold and we dominated from the kick-off. You have to be careful with Cork because if you allow them into a game, they can grow in confidence. We imposed ourselves from the first minute and it paid dividends.
‘We might have won by more but the most pleasing aspect for me is the clean sheet ahead of the Europa League qualifier against AC Milan on Thursday. Our levels didn’t drop once, it’s a very competitive squad and that’s the hallmark of a good team.
‘It’s an obvious drawback for us not to have our fans at the Milan game – but strange things can happen in a European fixture and we know we can cause them a few problems,’ he added.
Frontman Greene was the twogoal hero with identical near-post headers to undo the home side in the 17th and 43rd minutes of this one-sided contest before Farrugia added that third in off the far post.
Ireland international Jack Byrne provided the initial cross for Rovers’ breakthrough goal and Danny Lafferty supplied the delivery for Greene’s second as Cork remain deep in relegation trouble.
City were totally outplayed and, with Dundalk travelling to Cork next Sunday evening, the task of avoiding the dreaded drop does not get any easier for Neale Fenn’s Leesiders. cork city (4-3-3): McNulty; Ochieng, O’Brien, K O’Connor, Slevin; Byrne (Hurley 46), Morrissey (c), Coleman; Dalling, Simpson (Dinanga 70), McGlade (Fenwick 46).
ShaMrock roverS: Mannus; Grace, Lopes, Scales (O’Brien 59); Finn (c), O’Neill (Watts 65), McEneff, Byrne; Burke, Lafferty (Farrugia 78); Greene (Marshall 79).
ScorerS: Greene (17, 43); Farrugia (88) referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath)