Tierney gives Bohs derby victory before record-breaking League of Ireland crowd
Bohs Ross Tierney celebrates scoring his side's goal. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Before a record-breaking crowd of 33,208, Ross Tierney’s goal gave Bohemians an early boost and placed an early dent in the title ambitions of Shamrock Rovers.
Not since 27,000 fans packed in Flower Lodge in 1972 for the final day decider between Cork Hibs ands Waterford was a league game so well attended but switching the opening day derby from Dalymount to Lansdowne Road was vindicated with interest.
Rovers were flying high from Thursday’s 1-0 Conference League first leg win in Molde but their sluggish start cost them as Bohs offered early evidence of an uptick from their disastrous 2024.
Michael Noonan didn’t have time to indulge his European heroics in Norway for Rovers, the 16-year-old only getting a few hours sleep off his charter flight back before resuming his transition year studies in Co Kildare.
Central to Stephen Bradley’s sales pitch to lure him from the St Patrick’s Athletic was the promise of exposure and the manager didn’t hesitate in deploying the teen as his sole striker again.
Graham Burke was promoted to support him and it was through the ex-Ireland international where what attacking spark in a disappointing first-half originated.
Not only were the goal down but two players down, as former debutant Adam Matthews and Gary O’Neill were forced off with injuries by the 40 minute mark. A third, Danny Mandroiu, followed them with a limp 20 minutes from the finish.
James Talbot in Bohemians goal wasn’t worked either as the side officially the home squad settled better into their temporary southside surrounds.
Alan Reynolds opted to restore Talbot in a now-look Bohs team, stung by last year’s eight-placed finish and equipped with a striker once bought for £10m for Sheffield United.
Lys Mousset was the league’s surprise acquisition during the off-season, the 28-year-old without a competitive game for 18 months seeking a club to place their trust in him.
Bohs structured the contract to mitigate against the risk of Ireland becoming his latest swift stopover and while Reynolds promised involvement it was a leap of faith to start him.
Within minutes, the voluminous Gypsies fanbase occupying the lower south stand assigned to the hardcore Ireland fans for international belted out their signature song: “Olé Olé Mousset.” Fitness was bound to be an impediment but the Frenchman but class was permanent in his contribution to the goal on 25 minutes.
Reynolds took another gamble by releasing Danny Grant into the arms of Rovers in order to recruit his former Waterford winger Connor Parson and he combined with Mousset to create the breakthrough.
A one-touch flick around the corner on the halfway line with Dan Cleary shadowing him released Parsons down the left. When he shimmied past Pico Lopes, Ed McGinty advanced and the new goalkeeper diverted the dink onto the upright.
Dashing in to bundle the loose ball over the line was Tierney, first to react ahead of two Rovers defenders.
Burke twice tested Talbot with his trademark curlers either side of the goal but he was most dangerous in a creative sense.
Corkman Matt Healy, on for O’Neill, slipped in Burke as the break approached, yet his hook across the six-yard box was to empty space rather than a teammate quick enough to anticipate.
McGinty stooped low to bat away Dayle Rooney’s half-volley as Rovers were guilty of sloppiness at the back and it would require a vast improvement in the second half from the side determined to regain their title from Shelbourne.
There was an increase in tempo without it resulting in sustained pressure.
Unsurprisingly, Noonan was at the fore, initially seizing upon an underhit backpass from John Mountney to round Talbot.
Despite protests, the stopper nicked the ball before the player and Burke was unable to produce one of his specialist long-range efforts with Talbot stranded.
Tierney blasted over on the stretch but the best chance of a goal fell to the two youngest players on the pitch at the other end with 19 minutes left.
Victor Ozhianvuna had only turned 16 but could have rivalled Noonan for profile by stabbing home Burke’s square pass. That he got his feet in a tangle and Noonan struck his own player with a shot when it bobbled back into his path underlined fortune eluding Rovers on this showpiece day.
J Talbot; L Smith, L Kavanagh, R Cornwall, J Mountney; D Devoy (A McDonnell 74), N Morahan; D Rooney (A Meekison 74), R Tierney, C Parsons (K Buckley 88); L Mousset (C Whelan 56).
E McGinty; D Cleary (V Ozhianvuna 70), R Lopes, L Grace; A Matthews (D Grant 29), D Watts, G O’Neill (M Healy 40), J Honohan; D Mandroiu (A McEneff 70), G Burke; M Noonan.
Rob Harvey (Dublin).
33,208Â
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