25-Jun-2005

Kildare County 3 Shamrock Rovers 1

A Robbie Cullen double gave the Thoroughbreds all three points and maintained their unbeaten run in the Dr Tony O�Neill under 21 League against a young and talented Rovers outfit at Station Road today (Saturday).

County were out of the blocks quickly and could have been two up after twelve minutes with Paddy Mahon and Stephen Sheridan coming close. It was Cullen who opened the scoring after seventeen minutes when he headed home a Matt Rigney free.

Rovers came close to leveling when their striker beat the offside trap after 25 minutes but his shot did not trouble County keeper Robbie Byrne (pictured). County�s advantage was doubled six minutes from the break when sixteen-year-old Castledermot lad Paddy Mahon rose above the Rovers defense to head home a Rigney corner.

County keeper Robbie Byrne did well to preserve his sides lead when one on one with an attacker after 42 minutes but the Hoops did pull one back with a bizarre goal direct from a corner on the stroke of half time.

Rovers enjoyed the lion�s share of the possession in the second half but could find no way through a well organised county defense. Indeed Kildare were always a threat on the break with Rigney, Mahon, Sheridan and Cullen probing the visitor�s rearguard at every opportunity.

It was Cullen who eventually put the game beyond Rovers when he rounded off a great personal display in the 78th. Minute He beat three defenders and side-footed home after being freed by Matt Rigney. This win sees County well in contention having already registered away draws with St Patrick�s Athletic and Dublin University.

Couny: Robbie Byrne, Mark Murnaghan, Alan Thorpe, Tom McLoughlin, Derek Kavanagh, Stephen Sheridan, Paul Rigney, Andy Hickey, Robbie Cullen, Matt Rigney, Paddy Mahon. Subs: Barry Fagan (for Mahon 65), Ciaran Clancy (for Hickey 75), Terence Shanley (for Cullen 86)

Referee : Philip Caschera (Kildare / Laois Branch)

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