Burke hits brace as Shamrock Rovers sink Pats with ease
Graham Burke’s double brought him to 88 Shamrock Rovers goals, surpassing a record held by Gary Twigg since Rovers moved into Tallaght 16 years ago. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Personal joy for Michael Noonan in a week of family anguish.
The gaze of the nation was already affixed to the 16-year-old striker before he was referenced in the central criminal court last week.
As Noonan’s father Andy was jailed for 13-and-a-half years arising from a serious case involving a heroin seizure, the judge highlighted the consequence of missing his son’s blossoming career.
A few hours later, the teen was living up to that tag by scoring in the comeback win at Waterford.
His deadly finishing was on show again three days later, dissecting the club he left in the off-season by firing Shamrock Rovers into a 21st-minute lead that they built on.
Graham Burke’s brace brought him to 88 Rovers goals, surpassing a record held by Gary Twigg since Rovers moved into Tallaght 16 years ago.
Noonan’s replacement Aaron Greene added a fourth with virtually his first touch, punishing a static Saints defence to curl the ball past Joseph Anang to consolidate their position at the summit of the table.
The one-sided complexion of this derby defeat should concern the Saints.
It’s a year this week since owner Garrett Kelleher succeeded in luring Stephen Kenny back to Inchicore for his first job since his disastrous Ireland spell. The objective in handing the incomer a five-and-a-half year contract was simple – to dethrone their south-side rivals.
Damien Duff’s Shelbourne achieved it first but the gulf between Rovers and Pat’s is arguably wider than 12 months ago.
Seven points is the official gap as the halfway point of the season looms on Friday week and yet the ease with which the Hoops toyed with their visitors exemplified the task facing them to regain a title last won in 2013.
Three defeats in four games doesn’t bode well though Rovers’ fans taunting Kenny about getting sacked in the morning might be overstretching it.
Rovers were four goals to the good by the 68th minute when that chant broke out and the cheers greeting a procession of keep-ball for the final stages must have stung.
It was the meeting of this generation’s two most successful domestic managers and they’ve been around the block long enough to become adept at throwing dummies.
Kenny had declared after his side came from behind to beat joint-bottom Cork City on Friday that Barry Baggley was suspended. He wasn’t and started in midfield.
Similarly, Stephen Bradley’s pre-match tidings contained a clean bill of health notice when, in fact, the central defender was sat in the stand. Rory Gaffney and Adam Matthews flanking him in their trainers might well have been with Friday’s trip to title rivals Derry City in mind.
Some of their colleagues on the pitch seemed to be wearing slippers, so comfortable were they in picking off the Saints challenge in the first half.
Baggley and his midfield partner Jamie Lennon were dominated by Matt Healy and Darragh Nugent, while Jack Byrne and Burke ahead of them got the room they have a tendency to gorge on.
Burke is 31, Byrne 29 and together they combined to exploit Kenny’s crew.
Aside from their teenage striker Mason Melia, who was denied by Ed McGinty at 1-0 and saw a late shot strike the underside of the crossbar, they were generally blunt in an attacking sense.
The first shot in anger was directed by Burke, spearing a left-footed effort that Anang confidently held.
Moments later, Burke was central to the breakthrough. Keeping the ball in his own half right near the sideline, he proceeded to loft a ball for the onrushing Noonan to chase.
Anang needlessly dashed from his box and when the teen snuck between Baggley and the goalkeeper he had the awareness to cut back inside and roll the ball into an empty net.
Burke again controlling the ball in the Rovers half on 36 minutes shouldn’t have spelt trouble but the Pat’s defence backed off as he roamed clear undetected before burying a 25-yard left foot strike past Anang’s outstretched arm.
Saints left the field at the interval still protesting for a penalty when Melia and Pico Lopes clashed but the chasm was underlined five minutes after it.
Hesitancy in defence allowed Noonan and Danny Grant to fuse, sending the latter away to cross for Burke to race in at the back post and sidefoot home.
As if the defeat wasn’t damning enough, on comes a quadruple of subs to interlink and collect a fourth to record the most comprehensive Rovers win since beating Sligo last September.
E McGinty; R Lopes, C O’Sullivan, L Grace; D Grant, D Nugent (D Watts 68), M Healy, J Honohan; J Byrne (A McEneff 68), G Burke (D Mandroiu 68); M Noonan (A Greene 68).
J Anang; J Redmond, S Hoare, L Turner (J McClelland 56); Z Elbouzedi, J Lennon, B Baggley, S Power (R McLaughlin 80); B Kavanagh (C Carty 80), M Melia, A Keena (J Mulraney 56).
Damien McGraith (Mayo).
6,542.
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