Professional Rovers overtake Bus - January 8, 2001
Shamrock Rovers 3 Dublin Bus 0
It always happens against Dublin Bus - no goals for 20 minutes and then two come along together!
At least that's the way it happened at Morton Stadium as thoroughly professional Rovers disposed of the FAI Cup challenge of their amateur opponents.
Rovers survived an early scare when Kevin Smith shot over the crossbar from twelve yards. But the Hoops quickly settled into their stride, with young Shane Robinson bossing things in central midfield.
Tony Grant broke the deadlock on 21 minutes, latching onto a Sean Francis flick and holding off a defender before firing home. And within nine minutes it was 2-0, when Shane Robinson pounced on a loose ball to fire home from close range, after Grant's shot had been blocked by Greg Coleman.
Bus then had a chance to get back in the game and again it fell to Kevin Smith. He raced onto Kevin Fitzpatrick's through ball and rounded Robbie Horgan in the Rovers goal, but Gareth Cronin got back to make a crucial challenge.
That hiccup aside, Rovers were totally dominant and they made it 3-0 in the 67th minute when defender Terry Palmer rose highest to nod home a Billy Woods free kick.
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Smith, Cronin, Palmer, Woods, Vaudequin, Robinson, Kavanagh, Byrne, Francis, Grant
Subs: Dunne for Woods 79, Stewart for Vaudequin 90
Goals: Grant 21, Robinson 30, Palmer 67
Dublin Bus: Matthews, Coleman, Campbell, Price, Wilson, Ledwitch, Mulreaney, Kevin Smith Snr, Gill, Kevin Smith Jnr, Fitzpatrick
Subs: Devlin for Gill 45, O'Brien for Fitzpatrick 67, McCann for Kevin Smith Snr 72
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)