Rovers surrender home advantage - and points - December 28, 2000
Shamrock Rovers 1 Shelbourne 3
Shamrock Rovers, nominally the home team, switched this fixture to Tolka Park - and paid the price. Having taken the game to the champions and taken the lead after just nine minutes, Rovers watched as a 5,000-strong crowd urged Shelbourne into a typically gritty fightback which ultimately yielded another three precious points.
The champions, minus Pat Scully, were rattled by Rovers' bright start and they failed to deal with Shane Robinson's ninth-minute corner, Tony Cousins rising to head home at the back post.
But Richie Baker was in ebullient form and almost single-handedly he dragged Shelbourne back into the game, testing Robbie Horgan from a free, setting up his brother Dessie for a shot and finally grabbing he equaliser on 26 minutes. Baker, probably the smallest man on the pitch, rose highest to flick home Mark Hutchinson's corner.
Jim Crawford could have given Shels the lead with a dipping volley that went inches over but the former Newcastle United man made amends on 64 minutes when his cross was fluffed by Gareth Cronin and Stephen Geoghegan was on hand to force the ball past Horgan from close range.
Shels and Richie Baker finished the game in style when the latter scored a cracking third goal after a sweeping move.
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Smith, Palmer, Cronin, Woods, Vaudequin, Tracey, Robinson, Byrne, Grant, Cousins
Subs: Francis for Vaudequin 81, Deans for Byrne 88, Dunne for Tracey 88
Goals: Cousins 9
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, McCarthy, John, D Geoghegan, R Baker, Doolin, Crawford, Hutchison, D Baker, S Geoghegan
Subs: Keddy for Hutchison 59, Sheridan for S Geoghegan 88, Byrne for Crawford 90
Goals: R Baker 26, 80, S Geoghegan 64
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin)