Nervy North End United were handed a footballing lesson by a dominant Shamrock Rovers who sent out a clear message that they are still very much on course towards retaining their title as they took all three points from this Premier Division clash at Fr. Murphy Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday morning last.

The reigning champions are still very much in the title race, with these three points at the expense of their fellow challengers really getting their new year programme off to the ideal start. With Campile United also still very much in contention with games in hand, it's building up to what should be a very interesting close to the title race.

On another day, one would have expected North End to have taken something out of a game of this importance, but on this occasion they were clearly second best, particularly after the home side took the lead as early as the fifth minute.

It was centre-forward James Carty who took the early plaudits. Having been just off target with a close-range header minutes earlier, he certainly made amends when racing on to a Chris Kenny ball through the centre, picking his spot as he rifled a rising shot high into the net past a startled Lee Walker in the visitors' goal.

This was not the start that North End expected as they had to wait until the eleventh minute for their first attempt on goal, but Lee Murphy easily held a Shane Dempsey free-kick. Apart from this effort, the visitors' front players were shut out as both Jason Murphy and Paul Murphy were closely monitored, while at the opposite end, Eamonn O'brien and James Carty had efforts that flew narrowly outside the post.

Paul Murphy was beginning to pose a threat and a great 29th-minute cross fell into the path of Keith Kearney, but he blazed his effort wide from eight metres when he should at least have hit the target. The home side continued to press forward, forcing successive corner kicks that were capably dealt with by the opposing back four.

Shamrock Rovers deservedly increased their lead seven minutes before the break. Martin Mckeown won possession out on the left and cut inside his marker before drilling a low shot across the face of the goal into the opposite corner of the net, leaving it 2-0 at the interval.

A blundering North End back four were punished within three minutes of the re-start. Emmet Quirke broke down the left and his excellent cross was superbly headed home by Chris Kenny as the visitors' back four were caught ballwatching, making it 3-0 and leaving no way back for the challengers.

North End sprung both Darren Browne and Stuart Lawlor from the bench in an effort to resurrect the situation. After 73 minutes it was substitute Browne who flicked the ball over advancing 'keeper Murphy to make it 3-1, handing his side something of a lifeline.

The goal seemed to spark North End to life, with both Jason Murphy and Browne bringing fine saves out of 'keeper Murphy, but they were unable to get that all-important second goal. Shamrock Rovers, to their credit, never lost their composure, with their fourth goal arriving two minutes into added time. James Carty was brought down just inside the left edge of area by Kyle Dempsey, leaving Ricky Fox to neatly tuck away the resulting penalty.

With the clock running down, Paul Murphy pulled a goal back, but it was too little, too late as Shamrock Rovers deservedly took the points with one of their best displays of the campaign.

- BRENDAN FURLONG