REPORT: This Weekend's Pre-Season Friendlies Results
Shamrock Rovers continued their pre-season preparations this weekend, with another double game-day on Saturday, welcoming Bray Wanderers to Tallaght Stadium early on in the day, before travelling to the West to take on Galway United in the evening.
Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Bray Wanderers
In what was our second meeting against The Seagulls this pre-season, Rovers ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a second-half Aidomo Emakhu finish - infront of a home crowd for the first time in 2022.
Stephen Bradley included Graham Burke in his starting line-up, and Burke was causing major issues for the Wanderers defence early on in Tallaght, firing a dangerous low-drive across the visitors box, just missing the feet of Aaron Greene.
Mid-way through the first-half, attacker Paul Fox almost capitalised on a defensive mistake from Alan Mannus, but the attackers effort dribbled wide to the relief of the Rovers fans in the West Stand. Rovers began to create more in the final period of the first half, with Aaron Greene & Aidomo Emakhu coming closest to breaking the deadlock for the home side.
Rovers continued to push for the opener early on in the second half, with Hugh Douglas and, former Hoop, Sean Callan kept on their toes in the Wanderers defence to keep Rovers at bay. Emakhu again came close on the hour mark, forcing another former Hoop, Michael Kelly into action saving at his near post.
The deadlock was eventually broken on the 69th minute, when Richie Towell's corner from the left was cleared, before the second ball fell to Emakhu who smartly volleyed into the back of The Seagulls net inside the 18-yard box, through the crowded area - Emakhu's third of pre-season.
Rovers didn't let up there, and continued to press for a second, with our goal-scorer Emakhu coming close again with 15 minutes remaining. The winger got on the end of a low cross into the Bray box, but Kevin Knight was on hand to block the youngsters effort. Rovers saw the remaining minutes out to secure their fourth win of pre-season.
Stephen Bradley made just one substitution during the game, with U17 midfielder Justin Ferizaj replacing Graham Burke after 65 minutes.
Shamrock Rovers: 1. Mannus; 2. Gannon, 4. Hand, 6. Cotter; 8. Finn (C), 17. Towell, 34. Noonan, 23. Ryan; 10. Burke (15. Ferizaj), 9. Greene, 38. Emakhu.
Bray Wanderers: 25. Kelly, 3. Knight, 5. Douglas, 6. Clifford, 8. Byrne, 9. Manley, 11. Fox, 14. Callan, 17. Manahan, 18. O'Neill, 22. Labutis.
Galway United 0-3 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers made it 2/2 wins yesterday with a comfortable 3-0 win against John Caulfield's Galway United in Fahy's Field, home of Mervue United.
Rovers starting line-up for this game against The Tribesmen included the likes of Grace, Mandroiu, and our two newest signings Jack Byrne & Andy Lyons, and it was our two new signings who combined to create our opening goal.
After good play between Byrne & Lyons, the ball fell to Danny Mandroiu to calmly slotted beyond Conor Kearns in the Galway goal after 15 minutes.
On the half-hour mark, it was two. After some quick play in the Rovers final third from Neil Farrugia, Dylan Watts was on hand to finish well to double the visitors lead.
Mandroiu made sure of the game on the hour mark, after Andy Lyons & Dylan Watts linked up on the right, before the latter played in our 2021 Player of the Year, to net his second of the game.
Rovers comfortably saw out the remaining half-an hour, with the hosts rarely threatening Leon Pohls in the Rovers goal, to make it 4 wins on the bounce in pre-season, as our 2022 season gets underway this coming Friday in the President's Cup against St. Patrick's Athletic in Tallaght Stadium.
Galway United: 1. Kearns, 2. O'Keeffe, 5. Brouder, 8. Rowe, 10. McCarthy, 14. McCormack, 4. Lyons, 12. Adeyemo, 25. Murphy, 7. Boylan, 18. Waweru.
Shamrock Rovers: 30. Pohls; 3. Hoare, 5. Grace (C), 24. Jones-Carey; 19. Lyons, 7. Watts, 16. O'Neill, 23. Farrugia; 14. Mandroiu, 26. Gaffney, 29. Byrne.
*Photo Credit: Shamrock Rovers Football Club*