SHAMROCK ROVERS got their teenage kicks seeing off Bangor Celtic but needed some old pros to get them motoring.
With another European mission coming down the tracks on Thursday, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley had the luxury of blooding newcomers and handing youth its chance.
New signings Simon Power and Daniel Cleary started and the latter marked his debut with the fourth goal, while the former flew under the radar but needs game time.
READ MORE: Bray Wanderers 0 Shelbourne 3: Sean Boyd's early double ensures comfortable progression in FAI Cup
Bradley also played six teenagers - three of them from the outset with Cory OSullivan, 16, and highly-regarded Justin Ferizaj, 17, starting for the first time.
Aidomo Emakhu, 18, is firmly established in the first-team and scored the third, while Gideon Tetteh, 17, and Mikey Leddy and Sean Carey, both 18, all came on.
Yet Rovers needed goals from senior stars Rory Gaffney and Sean Hoare to set them on their way against a Bangor side playing just the third game of their pre-season.
From the Leinster Senior League’s top flight, six of their starting XI had League of Ireland experience at some point but, predictably, Rovers bossed it.
And they should have led by more than a single Gaffney goal at the break.
The striker already had one goal chalked off for offside before his 32nd minute breakthrough, as did Neil Farrugia who was a handful raiding the right.
He banged off two good shots that required saves from Adam Hayden, while Emakhu went close after twisting and turning like an eel in the box.
But the goal was coming and Gaffney unleashed a rocket high into the net with an angled shot after Sean Gannon set him free.
And he should have doubled his tally four minutes later but, from a yard out, somehow hit the crossbar with an outstretched leg.
Dylan Watts, handed the armband for the night, was then a yard wide with a low drive from distance just before the break.
Bangor were neat and tidy on the ball, but were savaged the moment they coughed up possession.
Still, Mark McCarthy’s booming throw in caused all sorts of bother with Derek Prendergast almost turning home at close range.
But it remained a stroll for the League of Ireland champions in the second-half - and they soon pulled clear.
Power will benefit from his 59-minute run out, even if Rovers fans got no real sense of their new signing’s ability apart from a rising drive two minutes before his withdrawal.
With Bangor tiring, Hoare then applied a simple finish from close range to double Rovers' advantage on 66 minutes.
And Emakhu’s persistence eventually paid off eight minute later, when he dinked a low chip over Hayden before seeing it dribble over the line.
And Cleary, who signed from St Johnstone this week, capped a solid debut with the fourth in the dying stages.
BANGOR CELTIC: Hayden; Farrell, Maher, Prendergast, McCarthy; O’Callaghan (Synnott 75); Andre (Bennett 64), Stokes, Whelan (Mahony 64), McGurk (McGee 45); Hanaphy (Boulmeth 80).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls; Gannon, Cleary, Hoare; Farrugia (Carey 69), Ferizaj, Watts, O’Sullivan; Emakhu, Power (Tetteh 59); Gaffney (Leddy 69)
Referee: O Moran
READ NEXT:
Cristiano Ronaldo announces imminent return to Man Utd action: "Sunday the King plays"
Andy Farrell signs contract extension to stay as Ireland head coach until 2025
Jockey Wesley Joyce remains in intensive care following Galway Races fall
Donald Trump defends LIV Golf hosting by insisting "nobody’s got to the bottom of 9/11"
World Cup winner signs for Shelbourne - after encouragement from Arsene Wenger
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
