Stevens remains a Hoop

SHAMROCK Rovers left Ireland U21 star Enda Stevens (pictured) out of their team for last night’s FAI Cup showdown with UCD, but Hoops boss Michael O’Neill insists that the player is not on his way to Aston Villa.

The busy calendar for Rovers became even more clogged after last night’s 2-2 draw at Tallaght Stadium, as UCD managed to come from |2-0 down in the last 17 minutes. Karl Sheppard (61) and Ciaran Kilduff (70) had given Rovers the lead but goals from Samir Belhout and former Hoop Robbie Creevy got UCD level, setting up a replay next Monday.

Left back Stevens is in the Ireland U21 squad for Thursday’s Euro qualifier at home to Hungary, and O’Neill insisted after the game that the defender was |not leaving and that he had just been rested for the game.