20.00 15 Jul 2016 -
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 1 Bohemians
- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, Jul 16 2016
Shamrock Rovers ushered in a new guard as they presented four teenagers with their first professional contracts this week, and two were centrally-involved as they thumped Bohemians 3-1 at Tallaght Stadium.
Caretaker manager Stephen Bradley handed a full debut to 17-year-old midfielder Aaron Dobbs in place of the suspended Gary McCabe, in the only change from last week's 1-1 draw in Finland, and fellow under-18 international Sean Boyd was sprung from the bench late on.
The Wexford native Dobbs was the architect of Dean Clarke's first-half equaliser, after 10-man Bohs had taken the lead through Kurtis Byrne, while Boyd added to Gary Shaw's volley with a spectacular second-half finish.
Police were on high alert following an alleged incident between football fans in Ballinteer last Saturday, but in truth meetings between the sides in Tallaght have tended to be tepid affairs both on and off the pitch in recent years.
On the pitch, at least, this wasn't to be one of those occasions as the game exploded into life from the off, and there was barely a minute on the clock when Paul McLaughlin hesitated before pointing to the penalty spot.
A quick corner routine saw Madden get an easy cross into the box, which was cleared, but the recycled ball saw Pat Cregg pick out the Tallaght-born right-back and he was clumsily upended by midfielder Dan Byrne.
With regular penalty-taker Gary McCabe – who scored last week in Rovaniemi – suspended, Miele took responsibility for the kick, but his approach was casual and Dean Delany went the right way to touch the ball onto the post.
It was a let-off for the Gypsies, who'd barely managed a touch until that point, and they had to endure further set-piece attack from Rovers. Bohs striker Ismahil Akinade stepped off the line to clear as Miele's right-wing corner looked destined to beat everyone to nestle in the far corner.
Bohs were to cause set-piece problems of their own through Kelly, who almost found Derek Prendergast with a whipped free kick from the right, while Kurtis Byrne pulled his shot wide following a quick Derek Pender throw.
And then, with just 20 minutes gone, came the moment that changed the course of the game.
It seemed more brainless than malicious from Keith Buckley, and appeared to happen in slow motion, as he caught Rovers left-back Gavin Brennan with a two-footed studs-up challenge.
McLaughlin produced the red card immediately and, despite the midfielder's protestations that Gavin Brennan wasn't hurt, Buckley was asked to leave the field.
If that was to be Bohs' challenge gone before it had even begun, Kurtis Byrne was blissfully unaware, capitalising on static Rovers defending to latch onto Dean Delany's kick-out and lift his shot over a stranded Craig Hyland and in off the post to give the Gypsies the lead.
The home side were rocked, and Rob Cornwall found himself in the book after needlessly taking out Akinade as a Bohemians counter-attack seemed to be about the peter out.
Bradley's charges did regain their composure, and a beautifully-weighted crossfield ball from Killian Brennan found Simon Madden with acres of space to run into down the right wing.
He found Dobbs, who shot brilliantly on the turn to force a save from Delany, but the teenager had the presence of mind to pick up the rebound and roll the ball across for Dean Clarke to fire the Hoops level.
Three minutes later, calamitous defending handed Rovers the lead as Delany and his defenders allowed a Miele knock-down to bounce on the edge of the six-yard box, and Gary Shaw nipped in to clip the ball past the 'keeper.
Bohs roared back as the half came to a close, however, and Kurtis Byrne should have scored when Pat Cregg lost out to Kelly on the edge of the box and fed the winger, but he stabbed his shot wide.
In injury time, confusion in the Rovers box saw the ball drop to Roberto Lopes with time and space to pick his spot, but he rifled his shot onto the bar when he seemed certain to score.
After an action-packed first half, the second was inevitably played at a much slower pace, Rovers using their man advantage to take the sting out of proceedings and work their opponents around the field.
There were still opportunities on the counter, and the excellent Akinade skinned Gavin Brennan for the umpteenth time down the right before zipping a cross in for Kurtis Byrne, but again there was no finish to match.
That was left to Rovers' 18-year-old substitute Sean Boyd, who showed a glimpse of what he can do with his first involvement of the game, cutting in from the right and shaping to bend a shot into the far corner, but couldn't quite find his range.
That changed moments later as Boyd dummied Dean Clarke's pass in the box and continued his run, latching onto Shaw's perfectly-executed flick and slammed his shot low past the helpless Delany for his first senior goal.
He inadvisedly took his celebrations straight to the away fans, who responded to his goading by throwing objects, but the former Malahide United youngster seemed content to take his yellow card in exchange for the adulation of the home support.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Rob Cornwall, Sean Heaney, Gavin Brennan; Pat Cregg, Killian Brennan, Aaron Dobbs (Sean Boyd 65), Dean Clarke (Trevor Clarke 74), Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw (Stephen McPhail 81).
Subs not used: Barry Murphy (gk), David Webster, Richie Purdy, James Doona.
Booked: Rob Cornwall (26), Sean Boyd (71), Gary Shaw (79).
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Dylan Hayes, Derek Prendergast (Ian Morris 77), Dan Byrne, Derek Pender; Roberto Lopes, Keith Buckley, Dave Mulcahy, Jake Kelly (Ayman Ben Mohamed 69), Kurtis Byrne; Ismahil Akinade (Mark Quigley 66).
Subs not used: Shane Supple (gk), Jason Caffrey, Eoin Wearen, James Kavanagh,.
Booked: Dylan Hayes (22), Dan Byrne (41), Kurtis Byrne (76).
Sent off: Keith Buckley (20).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 3,000 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Aaron Dobbs (Shamrock Rovers).
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundalk | 33 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 77 |
2 | Cork | 33 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 70 |
3 | Derry | 33 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 62 |
4 | Shamrock R | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 55 |
5 | Sligo | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 49 |
6 | Bray | 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 46 |
7 | St Patrick's Athl. | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 45 |
8 | Bohs | 33 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 41 |
9 | Galway | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 38 |
10 | Harps | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
11 | Wexford | 33 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 23 |
12 | Longford | 33 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 14 |
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