Rovers fans turn on boss Kenny

Champions Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of a third successive title took another major knock when held to a scoreless draw by battling Bray Wanderers in an entertaining encounter at Tallaght Stadium last night.

With Rovers failing to win any of their last four league games, it came as no surprise that fans were chanting for the dismissal of boss Stephen Kenny at the final whistle.

That seemed rather harsh as the Hoops played with determination throughout the 90 minutes but had little luck.

The Seagulls will be well pleased with the point as it eases Pat Devlin’s team further out of the relegation zone.

The Hoops, without the suspended Gary Twigg and the injured Craig Sives, had an early chance when Chris Turner supplied a perfect ball to Billy Dennehy, only for the winger to shoot from long range and see his effort gathered at the second attempt by Darren Quigley.

Bray should have opened their account on eight minutes when midfielder Kevin O’Connor opened up the home defence, only for Adam Hanlon to shoot inches wide of the upright.

Rovers went back on the offensive and might have broken the deadlock on 15 minutes when first Conor Powell and Dennehy combined well to set up the chance for the hard-working Ronan Finn. But his powerful shot was pushed out by Quigley.

Then Dennehy sent in a low cross from the right which should have been netted by Daryl Kavanagh. His close-range effort was deflected out for a corner.

The Hoops missed another glorious opportunity on 33 minutes when Dennehy ballooned the ball over the bar from three yards after a dangerous low Finn cross from the right.

With one eye on next Tuesday’s Champions League second qualifying round second leg tie in Lithuania against Ekranas, Rovers were forced to make two important substitutions for injuries in the space of a minute late in the first half. First Conor McCormack came in for Ken Oman and then Killian Brennan replaced Stephen O’Donnell.

Finn had another effort from long range wide of the target early in the second half before Kavanagh had a header well taken by the alert Quigley.

Bray were content to play a holding game, with central defenders Danny O’Connor and Adam Mitchell, both back from suspension, outstanding at the back.

Rovers had further chances through substitute Gary McCabe, who shot wide, and Dennehy, whose cross failed to find a team-mate.

The Seagulls were always dangerous in breakaways and veteran striker Jason Byrne had a header brilliantly pushed away for a corner by keeper Oscar Jansson after an Adam Hanlon cross from the right.

Then a corner by John Mulroy saw Byrne’s attempted bicycle kick blocked, with Mitchell’s effort scrambled away by the Rovers defence.

McCabe again went close on 79 minutes when picking up a loose ball in midfield, he let fly from 25 yards only to see the effort rebound off the crossbar with Quigley beaten.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Sullivan, Oman (McCormack 36), Hawkins, Powell; Kavanagh, Finn, O’Donnell (Brennan 37), Kavanagh (McCabe 61), Dennehy; O’Neill.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; S O’Connor, Mitchell, D O’Connor, Massey; Hanlon (Kelty 82), Zambra, Mulroy, K O’Connor, Houston; Byrne (Akinade 88).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).