Rovers go top after derby drama

A GAME which began in a whisper ended with a scream in Tallaght last night, as Shamrock Rovers got the win against champions and arch-rivals Bohemians which takes the Hoops back to the top of the League of Ireland.

But Rovers are only there because, after Padraig Amond’s 80th minute winner, Jason Byrne contrived to miss a penalty for Bohs in an intensely dramatic and controversial final 10 minutes which also saw Rovers’ Pat Sullivan sent off.

A noisy full house of 6,000, including in their number Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady, made for an electric atmosphere beneath the lights at Tallaght Stadium as the top two in Dublin and Ireland renewed an age-old rivalry. For regular visitors to League of Ireland games, where empty seats and tumbleweed are too often the norm, the surroundings were enough in themselves to put a smile on the face and prompt the inevitable reflection: wouldn’t it be great if it was like this all the time?

Unfortunately, for what felt like an inordinately long first 45 minutes, the fare on the pitch failed miserably to live up to billing. The tension naturally accruing to a high-stakes occasion such as this was evident early on in the game, as every ball was full-bloodedly contested, individual errors proliferated and both sides struggled to establish a dominant rhythm.

It was the kind of contest where the percentage game threatened to pay dividends, as Rovers almost proved in the 16th minute when full back Pat Sullivan met a Brian Murphy kick out on the full, sending Gary Twigg racing through the heart of the Bohs defence only to see his hooked lob over the ‘keeper drift wide of the post. Minutes later at the other end, Bohs’ own ace marksman Jason Byrne was cleverly put through on goal by Glen Cronin’s slide-rule pass but, uncharacteristically, his first touch let him down and the chance went a-begging. That miss, however, would be the least of the ones destined to haunt Byrne on the night.

In general, the frantic nature of the first half allowed for little in the way of composed football with even the gifted Joseph Ndo struggling to retain possession, let alone unleash his creative talent. While both sides laboured to play with any width, Mark Rossiter – in for the suspended Killian Brennan – was a threat on the right for Bohs, but when he even he blasted a long-range effort high into the night sky, manager Pat Fenlon was reduced to raging at the fourth official about the state of the match ball. A new ball was duly introduced five minutes before the break but still the game lacked an inspirational moment.

Jason Byrne almost provided it moments after the restart but, after a fine Bohs build-up in which the impressive Paul Keegan was prominent, the striker’s low driven ball across the face of the Rovers goal failed to find a colleague’s decisive touch. Then, as the game belatedly came to life, Brian Murphy had to make what was virtually his first save of the game from Rovers skipper Shane Robinson after Stephen Bradley’s penetrating run and pass.

A much livelier second half soon saw further chances and close shaves at either end, Ken Oman wasting a great opportunity for Bohs with a badly directed free header from Ndo’s corner, while Craig Sives’ shot on turn for the home side brought the best out of Murphy who dived low at his post to turn the ball away for a corner.

Just past the hour mark, Rovers were unlucky to lose their goal talisman Twigg to a knock while Pat Fenlon sought to increase Bohs’ firepower by sending the veteran Glen Crowe into the fray. But it was the Rovers subs who combined to make the breakthrough in the 80th minute when, after Bohemians had failed to adequately defend a Shaun O’Connor free-kick, Padraig Amond was able to find the back off the net with a hooked shot which deflected in off Ken Oman.

That set up a pulsating final 10 minutes with Rovers looking to have blown their lead when Glen Crowe went down easily under a challenge from Pat Sullivan in the box and referee Alan Kelly pointed to the spot. Then, in a dramatic sequence of events, linesman Ken Hennessey was struck by a plastic bottle thrown from the crowd, Jason Byrne sensationally blasted his penalty high over the bar, and Pat Sullivan was shown the red card for remonstrating with the ref.

But, amidst all the hysteria, 10-man Rovers held out against Bohs’ final surge, leaving the Dublin mountains resounding to the echo of thousands of joyous Hoops supporters chanting, “we are top of the league”.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus, Sullivan, Sives, Price, Cahill, Bradley (Amond 77), Rice, Robinson, Chisholm (O’ Connor 58), Barrett, Twigg (Kavanagh 63)

BOHEMIANS: Murphy, Heary, Shelley , Oman , Powel (Fenn 88)l, Rossiter (Crowe 68), Cronin, Keegan, Ndo, Madden, Madden, Byrne

Referee: Alan Kelly