Shamrock Rovers 4 Cork City 1

Cork City haven't been able to score for most of the season but have picked up points because of their mean defence. Yesterday, however, the defence decided to give Shamrock Rovers a helping hand as the Dublin outfit secured a crushing 4-1 win.

Rovers took the lead in the 23rd minute through Brian Byrne. Marc Kenny hit a great cross from the right and Byrne jumped highest to head home from close range.

Cork were handed a lifeline in the 30th minute when Dave Smith handled the ball in his own box and Pat Morley stepped up to dispatch the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot.

It was only temporary relief for the Leesiders as they found the Rovers forward line too hot to handle.

Byrne added his second on the stroke of half time and, three minutes after the restart, Sean Francis put the result beyond Cork with Rovers' third. Francis finished the scoring in the 85th minute to earn the Dubliners an emphatic win.

Shamrock Rovers: Horgan; Smith, Palmer, Cronin, Dunne; Kenny, Colwell, Tracey, Byrne; Francis, Grant.
Sub: Robinson for Grant 87.
Goals: Byrne 23, 45; Francis 48, 85.

Cork City: Mooney; Horgan, Napier, Daly, Delaney; O'Brien, Gaughan, O'Halloran, Cahill; Mulligan, Morley.
Subs: Caufield for Cahill 57, Herrick for O Halloran 57, Coughlan for Mulligan 78.
Goal: Morley (pen) 31.
Booked: O'Halloran 56, Herrick 76.

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).