Rovers hit Harps for three - February 4,
2001
Finn Harps 0 Shamrock Rovers 3
Shamrock Rovers took the lead in the fourth minute in this FAI Cup third round match at Ballybofey and they never looked back.
The opener came from a Tony Grant header from a Shane Robinson corner and that set the tone for the entire game. Twenty minutes later, another cross found Brian Byrne equally neglected and, though Gareth Downey parried his first effort, Byrne was able to nod home the rebound.
Four minutes later another Robinson corner was despatched to the net by Pat Deans and the game was effectively over.
It might have been different had Paddy McGrenaghan enjoyed better luck in the eighth minute. His shot from Jon Speak's cross was the width of an upright away from making it 1-1.
Fergal Harkin clipped the Rovers crossbar within minutes of the restart, but otherwise the Dubliners had a relatively relaxed second half.
Finn Harps: Downey, R Kenny, Minnock, Fitzhenry, Bradley, McGrenaghan, Mohan, Tierney, Speak, J Kenny, Harkin
Subs: McHugh for R Kenny 60
Booked: McGrenaghan
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Vaudequin, Woods, Cronin, Palmer, Colwell, Deans, Robinson, Francis, Grant, Byrne
Subs: Kavanagh for Robinson 88
Goals: Grant 4, Byrne 25, Deans 29
Booked: Grant
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone)