Soccer

Brandon Miele helps Shamrock Rovers win on league return

Conor Kenna and Patrick Cregg also on target as Hoops prove too strong for Limerick

Brandon Miele scores twice in Shamrock Rovers’ victory over Limerick in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, match at Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Brandon Miele scores twice in Shamrock Rovers’ victory over Limerick in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, match at Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Paul Buttner at Tallaght Stadium
Sun Jul 26 2015 - 20:17

Shamrock Rovers 4 Limerick 1

Having opened the scoring with a spectacular strike, Brandon Miele completed Shamrock Rovers' tally with the goal of the game in this facile win at Tallaght Stadium.

Captain Conor Kenna and Patrick Cregg were also on target in between to ease Rovers to victory on their return to league action after a month in Europe.

Limerick's consolation came from Ian Turner as Martin Russell's side remain 10 points adrift at the foot of the table, and still without a win in the league.

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Though Rovers, with four changes in their starting XI from Thursday’s Europa League exit in Norway, enjoyed plenty of the ball from the start it was Limerick who came close to opening the scoring on 18 minutes.

The home marking was negligent as Limerick central defender Robbie Williams shaved the Rovers crossbar with a header following Sean Russell's corner.

Rovers continued to dominate possession and took the lead with a stunning goal on 33 minutes.

Midfielder Miele struck a right-foot shot from some 30 yards with Limerick goalkeeper Freddy Hall merely able to watch as the ball flew past him into the top corner of his net.

The outstanding strike marked Rovers’ 200th goal at Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers punished slack marking at a set-piece to double their lead eight minutes into the second half.

Marty Waters, who was fouled by Paul O'Conor, whipped a free kick in from the left for Kenna to find the net with a crisp header.

Limerick got a goal back on 62 minutes. Barry Murphy could only parry a low drive from Shane Tracy and Turner followed up to tap home the rebound.

But Rovers restored their two goal lead within three minutes.

Miele picked out Danny North in the middle. And though his shot was touched away by Hall, Cregg followed up to take the ball around the goalkeeper and side-foot home his first goal for the club.

The move of the game then brought Rovers’ fourth goal on 82 minutes.

Madden, Miele and Gary McCabe were involved before substitute Ryan Brennan’s flick found the run of Miele who rounded Hall to side-foot to the net for his eighth goal of the season.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, Webster, Kenna, Byrne; McCabe, Cregg; Miele, C Kavanagh (R Brennan, 72 mins), Waters (D Kavanagh, 85 mins); North (McCaffrey, 80 mins).

LIMERICK: Hall; O'Conor, O'Connor, Williams, Tracy; Agyemang (Faherty, 62 mins); Turner (Rainsford, 62 mins), Lynch, Duggan, Russell; Clarke.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).