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file photo. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
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Brilliant O'Connor goal the highlight as Hoops breeze to win over UCD

Ryan Brennan and Gary McCabe were also on the scoresheet.

Shamrock Rovers 3

UCD 0

SHAMROCK ROVERS DEFEATED UCD 3-0 in Tallaght tonight to leave the relegation threatened students with no wins in 10 games.

Goals from Ryan Brennan, a stunner from Sean O’Connor and a penalty from Gary McCabe sealed the points for the Hoops.

UCD will have been disappointed with another weak display with relegation looming but the scoreline could have been bigger only for some fine goalkeeping by Conor O’Donnell.

The young stopper was at hand to keep out Pat Fenlon’s side on a number of occasions who looked to set down a marker ahead of the FAI Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Hoops had the majority – and the best – of the chances in this tie with the first just after three minutes when Ryan Brennan’s blistering header was saved.

It didn’t take the home side long after that to score – just three minutes to be exact – when Brennan used his initiative to beat the offside trap and flick home a Luke Byrne cross.

The intensity was evident throughout the home team but embodied in creative midfielder Sean O’Connor. His goal was worth the admission fee alone as he danced through the UCD defence unharmed to curl a wonderful shot around the helpless Conor O’Donnell.

UCD gaffer Aaron Callaghan will be unhappy with the nature of the defeat with so much to play for in Belfield with a relegation scrap looming.

Callaghan tried to inject some life into his ailing team – even going as far to move the team talk to the dugout. That wasn’t enough though as Shamrock Rovers wrapped up the win early in the second half.

Winger Gary McCabe scored from the penalty spot after the referee deemed Hugh Douglas to have hand balled.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, David O’Connor, Luke Byrne; Sean O’Connor, Shane Robinson, Patrick Cregg (Bayly, 20), Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe( Cian Kavanagh, 74); Ciaran Kilduff (Kelly, 66).

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews, Hugh Douglas, Ian Ryan, Sean Coyne; Colm Crowe (Simon, 42), Chris Mulhall (Belhout, 68), Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson, Ayman Ben Mohammed; Conor Cannon (James Kavanagh, 74) .

Referee: Derek Tormney

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