Rovers hit back to defeat a gallant Shelbourne

Shelbourne 2 Shamrock Rovers 3

Gary Twigg hit two poachers goals as Shamrock Rovers twice had to come from behind to beat a gallant Shelbourne in a pulsating Dublin derby at Tolka Park.

In a hugely entertaining first half, the sides trooped off level at 1-1 with Shels down to ten men.

Shels started brightly and had the lead on seven minutes, Paul Byrne eventually forcing home following a corner after the ball had come back off a post.

But Rovers hit back to level from their first corner of the game six minutes later.

Dean Delany could only parry a header from Graham Gartland and Twigg hooked home his 14th league goal of the campaign.

It got worse for Shels within a further five minutes when winger Anto Murphy was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Conor Powell.

Philly Hughes restored Shels' lead on 64 minutes when brilliantly weaving past three defenders to shoot home for the goal of the game.

But Gary McCabe’s shot deflected off Brian Shortall to enter the net to bring Rovers level again four minutes later.

Rovers then won it on 79 minutes. McCabe’s shot was clearly going wide before Twigg instinctively threw himself at the ball to head it past Dean Delany.

The win moves the champions second in the table over night and to within five points of leaders Sligo Rovers.