League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 2 Shelbourne
Rory Gaffney scored the winner as Rovers saw off Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday night. Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)
Rónán MacNamara reports from Tallaght Stadium
Shamrock Rovers got out of jail in dramatic circumstances after a sumptuous Rory Gaffney volley saw the Hoops come from behind against Shelbourne to win 3-2 and claim back their precious five-point lead at the summit.
Shelbourne twice went ahead with a brace from Shane Farrell including an instinctive finish on the stroke of half time, but the Hoops responded from an unlikely source as Daniel Cleary nicked a pair of goals of his own.
Damien Duff will feel hugely aggrieved with the awarding of the corner that led to Gaffney’s 94th minute winner where Shelbourne midfielder Aodh Dervin was unable to clear off the line.
The Rovers bench flooded the pitch and there was pandemonium in the stands.
It was far from pretty, but results are what matter at this stage. The Hoops are still on course for three successive Premier Division titles, and they kept one hand on the trophy tonight – just.
The decision from Stephen Bradley to rest the likes of Jack Byrne, Graham Burke, Neil Farrugia, Dylan Watts and Gaffney for Thursday night’s pathetic hammering defeat in Molde was vindicated in the end.
The opening goal came in strange circumstances as a JJ Lunney header aided by the howling gale split the Rovers back three and allowed Farrell to run through and finish neatly while Lee Grace and co stood and waited for a reprieve from the offside flag.
Cleary levelled affairs with a header in the 26th minute before Farrell scored a sublime goal to put Shels in the driving seat again heading into the changing rooms.
An instinctive piece of skill saw him turn on a sixpence and steer home Mark Coyle’s cross on the half volley.
The second period was backs to the walls for Shelbourne as Rovers piled on the pressure. The initiative was firmly with the hosts when Cleary pounced on a Brendan Clarke fumble from an Aaron Greene header to turn home in the 83rd minute and put him on an unlikely hat trick.
From there it was a green and white onslaught with Shelbourne living increasingly dangerously with each passing minute. Burke, Green and Hoare all spurned good opportunities as it looked like the title race would be blown wide open.
With the prospect of a three-point gap and a Halloween clash between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City an exciting one, Gaffney put paid to any such dramas for now at the death.
The awarding of a 94th minute corner was a debatable call from referee Rob Harvey but with one last roll of the dice the right number came up as Gaffney pulled away to the back post after Shelbourne failed to clear Byrne’s ball in.
An evening of frustration turned to elation for the Hoops who were singing in the rain. Meanwhile Duffer was aghast with ‘robbery’ firmly on the Shelbourne minds.
It is what they say that a sign of champions is to dig results out of the bag and Bradley’s side did just that at a crucial time.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Daniel Cleary, Sean Gannon (Roberto Lopes 46), Lee Grace (Sean Hoare 46); Neil Farrugia, Andy Lyons, Gary O'Neill (Aaron Greene 61), Dylan Watts; Graham Burke, Jack Byrne, Rory Gaffney.
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Sean Kavanagh, Richie Towell, Ronan Finn, Justin Ferizaj, Victor Serdeniuk
Booked: None.
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; Luke Byrne, Shane Griffin, Stephen Negru; Mark Coyle, Kameron Ledwidge (Gavin Molloy 46), JJ Lunney (Josh Giurgi 46), Matty Smith, John Ross Wilson; Sean Boyd (Daniel Carr 74), Shane Farrell (Aodh Dervin 74).
Subs not used: Aaron O'Driscoll, Brian McManus, Gbemi Arubi.
Booked: Kameron Ledwidge (45) .
Referee: Rob Harvey
Attendance: 4000
extratime.com Player of the Match: Daniel Cleary
League Report: Derry City 3 – 0 Finn Harps https://t.co/xQ30VieK9Npic.twitter.com/VRcgv4Hxls
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