Shamrock Rovers kicked off their Eircom League Cup win an easy 3-0 win against First Division Monaghan United at Tolka Park last night.

Summer signing Tony Grant scored two of their goals in the first 30 minutes to kill the tie as a competition. His first came in the 19th minute when he latched onto a through ball from Brian Byrne to expertly drill the ball into the bottom of the net from 10 yards.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0 when Grant hit a low shot from 20 yards out which rifled into the left-hand corner.

Just as Monaghan were thinking about their half time orange Rovers made it 3-0. Billy Woods combined with Byrne before volleying home from the six-yard line.

Elsewhere, there was wins for Longford, Finn Harps and Limerick.

Longford faced a stiff task against Athlone Town at Strokestown Road but an own goal by Colin Frawley and a late strike by Stephen Gavin earned a 2-0 win for the Premier side.

Finn Harps travelled to the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers and after a scoreless first half they took a stranglehold on the game with goals from Kemajl Avidu and Shane Bradley.

Sligo hit back through a Padraig Moran penalty in the 71st minute but Paddy McGrenaghan made sure of the victory with Harps third goal 11 minutes from time.

Limerick faced Mervue United and were made to work for the 1-0 win by the non-leaguers at Terryland Park. A goal in the 54th minute by Anthony Tobin won the day for the league side but only just.