Bohemians 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
IF SHAMROCK ROVERS are to turn things around this season, a win at the home of fierce rivals Bohemians is as good a place as any to start.
Goals from Gary McCabe, Ronan Finn and Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters ensured that the bragging rights — and the unbeaten record — go home with the Hoops after the first Dublin derby between the sides.
Trevor Croly’s side just took one point from six in Dalymount Park last season, although that was a far sight better than the 4-0 humiliation suffered here during Stephen Kenny’s short reign.
This time it was Bohs who left empty-handed although they will reflect on a game in which they enjoyed plenty of chances.
The fixture carried its usual edge, the home fans setting the tone from the stands early on as they reminded Rovers left-full Luke Byrne that those who cross the divide are rarely forgiven, if ever.
A hail of boos greeted Byrne’s every touch and if the youngster was intimidated, Owen Heary looked to take full advantage. Bohs’ best attacks came down that side with Steven Beattie a constant menace in the first half and Craig Walsh never far behind.
Croly stuck with the same team and tactics that won in Athlone last weekend and Ciaran Kilduff was again tasked with leading the visitors’ attack. His brief seemed clear: battle for possession and bring Simon Madden and Gary McCabe into the game.
Both proved key to Rovers’ victory, Madden playing a crucial role in Rovers’ second and third while McCabe made and scored the opener from the penalty spot just after the quarter-hour mark. Former team-mate Jack Memery brought him down inside the box and he nervelessly dispatched the ball past Dean Delany.
It was the hosts who had the better chances for the rest of the first half. Dinny Corcoran did have the ball in the net in the 30th minute but as he wheeled away to celebrate, the flag went up for offside.
Beattie and Walsh combined again a couple of moments later to set up Paddy Kavanagh and after Ryan Brennan slid in to block his shot, Kevin Devaney’s follow-up cannoned off the bar.
But for all of Bohs’ half-chances, it was Rovers who should have doubled their lead just before the break. Kilduff rose highest to head back across goal but by the time Brennan slid in at the back post, the chance had drifted by.
Bohs looked to veteran striker Jason Byrne for inspiration after the break and the 36-year-old very nearly had an instant impact. He forced Barry Murphy into a good save from a one-on-one before Conor Kenna cleared his second attempt behind.
The Rovers skipper wasn’t so lucky in the 63rd minute when he turned Derek Pender’s cross into the roof of his own net to give Bohs the equaliser they deserved.
But as the game broke down in the final quarter, it was Rovers who took advantage. They took the lead in the 73rd minute when Madden’s cross from the right was returned across goal by Kilduff and Finn stooped to head in.
Three minutes later the points were secure. Waters was only on the pitch a few moments when Madden countered down the same side, picking out a pinpoint cross for the former Bray man to power past Delany.
BOHEMIANS: Delany, Memery (Moore 78), Pender (c), Price, Lopes, Kavanagh, Devaney (Byrne 55), Walsh (Traynor 75), McEvoy, Beattie, Corcoran.
Substitutes: Murphy, Moore, Traynor, J Byrne, D Byrne, Buckley, McCabe.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy, Madden, Kenna (c), McGuinness, Byrne, McCabe, Brennan (Bayly 78), Robinson, Finn, O’Connor (Waters 75), Kilduff.
Substitutes: Hyland, Cornwall, Sheppard, Waters, Bayly, Zayed, Kelly.
Referee: Padraig Sutton.
Your other Airtricity League reports
- UCD 2-1 Athlone Town
- Drogheda United 1-1 Derry City
- Cork City 3-1 Bray Wanderers
- LOI First Division wrap
Proper Friday night at Dalymount. Finally a win to stop the for against Bohs too.
LOI still needs all the support it can get.
If that photos anything to go by (empty stands) I think it’s a losing battle you have there! And referring to the earlier segment on what happened at the Caulfields Hotel I think that explains said empty seats, I will never in my life bring my son to to a league of Ireland match, our stadiums are too small to accommodate this hooliganism.
David, you are doing yourself and sons a terrible disservice by not attending LOI football. Its a marvellous occasion. I’m travelling from Laois tomorrow, with my three boys, to watch St Pats v Limerick. They absolutely love it. They don’t talk about Lampard, Giggs or Kompany…but they’ll tell you everything about Fagan, Finn, North and their favourite, Keith Fahey! Attending LOI for almost forty years and I’ve never once felt uneasy. Many an occasion I have had pints with opposing fans before and after games and not one bit of hooliganism to be seen anywhere!
Sorry man, I live in dublin and can’t afford to travel, I’m sorry to tarnish the league of Ireland the way I’m coming across, I can only attend local games, nice to hear your alternative experience, I’ll take your advice and attend alternative fixtures
That reported hooliganism took place about a mile away from the game and involved many “individuals” that didn’t even go to the game.
To be honest, it’s embarrassing how many Irish people seem to take pleasure in running our league down. Disinterest, I can understand. But the pleasure some seem to get from writing off the league and the fans who go and support their teams is perverse. Seriously, if you don’t like the league go comment on the sports you do like and stop putting your half-baked, ill-thought out opinions on here.
For what its worth, I was at the game, and was cheering for Rovers in the Bohs stand and there wasn’t any trouble either in or around the ground.
2 stands are closed but the Jodi was nearly full and Rovers took their allocation for the Des Kelly so a good attendance tonight. Why not pop along to a game some night an help fill those empty seats you speak of.
First of all I am a huge League of Ireland supporter over all other leagues. I love watching all LoI teams. I have been a Shamrock Rovers supporter since the 1960s. I live in Clare so Galway & Limerick are my nearest venues. Mind you the LoI stadiums have improved immensely in recent years. See what they are like up North in the Irish League? What annoys me however is this country must be the only country in Europe where none of the national radio stations carry domestic matches live……while 2 or 3 broadcast live matches from a foreign league? We call ourselves an independent Republic?
This match will only be remembered for all the wrong reasons….
What happened earlier has no place in any sport……….
Good game actually. Pity about the trouble earlier, although there was no sign of it at the game.
Because the trouble makers from earlier weren’t allowed to attend, may explain the empty seats?
What are you talking about?? There was 70 involved and 4000 at the match. You’re talking through your arse!!
Photo has changed since, it now shows a full crowd, but from the angle it had been shown from earlier I presumed it portrayed the empty regular haunt of the shamrock rover fans that bring the game into disrepute by fowl and obscene chanting that I do not want my son to mimick
do u support an english team? i think there might be a few hooligans over there…
I don’t support any team in particular in any country, I just enjoy the game and have brought our wee fella to various high profile games in local stadiums as he comes to that age but unfortunately we’ve been a witness to ridiculous obscene chants from opposing teams, why do you ask? Just because it happens elsewhere we should accept it here?
Witness to Obscene chants?? Jesus Christ, I think you need to lighten up! Either that or pick a new sport to go and watch!!
That’s soccer ! For the love of hooliganism !!!!
Happens with Liverpool fans every week Dermot, the only difference is the English media don’t gleefully sensationalise every incident like ours do…
Oh dear…..best bring him to your local hockey team so… What in Christ do you expect!? It’s football, there are family sections for a reason.
no matter what team in the world u watch or support theres goin to be some chants in a derby match, its not mass youre going to… there are family stands in most stadiums now, i can understand your point of view tho.
TBWRA….
BTID
D.I.S.C.O.
Charles I watched the west brom game a while ago and it was the worst game ive seen at any level, david after reading all your posts I don’t think any football match is the right place for you and your son unless you can get a corporate box or the sky soorts package (but only watch the matches on mute) our inferiority west brit sky sports complex is alive and well!!!
I watched a loi match on telly recently. It was brutal.
In fairness Charles I’ve seen many a brutal game from the Premiership, the Champions League, the World Cup… Sometimes a game can be exciting to watch even if the quality of footballers is not as good as others.