Nothing goes right for Kilkenny - February 12,
2001
Kilkenny City 0 Shamrock Rovers 4
When you are down on your luck, nothing goes right. That's the way things are just now with Kilkenny City, who should have been 3-1 up against Rovers before half time!
Shamrock Rovers, who play their home games at Morton Stadium, must have felt at home because the game was played at Scanlon Park, Kilkenny's athletics stadium. Buckley Park was unplayable yet again - and Kilkenny have learned that it will cost almost £40,000 to repair the damage caused by last autumn's u21 international between Ireland and Latvia, which was played in torrential rain.
Sean Francis put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes yesterday - but Kilkenny were in charge for the rest of the half and Warren Parkes should have had a hat-trick. He missed a sitter, hit a post and had another effort bravely saved by Rovers 'keeper Robbie Horgan.
But Kilkenny were stunned when Rovers centre back Terry Palmer made it 2-0 minutes after the restart and their resistance crumbled. Tony Grant made it three on 55 minutes and Francis notched his second from the penalty spot in the 80th minute to complete the rout.
Kilkenny City: Nelson, Purdy, Brunton, Wilkinson, O'Hanlon, Johnston, Murphy, McGrath, O'Byrne, Parkes, McAreavey
Subs: Brennan for O'Hanlon 32, O'Neill for McGrath 60, Roos for Parkes 77
Booked: Brunton, McGrath
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Vaudequin, Woods, Cronin, Palmer, Colwell, Deans, Robinson, Francis, Grant, Byrne
Subs: Dunne for Byrne 83, Daly for Robinson 85
Goals: Francis 20, 80 (pen), Palmer 47, Grant 55
Booked: Byrne
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)