Gaffney the hero as Shamrock Rovers extend lead at summit
Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's goal. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Supersub Rory Gaffney proved the hero as he was in the right place at the right time to notch a valuable winner and extend his side 11-point clear at the summit.
Rovers could have been in front within the first five minutes when Graham Burke stood up an inviting cross to the back post that found Danny Grant.
The wingback, under some pressure, showed good composure to chest the ball down but saw his low strike somehow hit the foot of the near post before rolling across goal and eventually cleared.
Waterford's Jesse Demspey found some space down the left and smartly teed up James Olayinka, who burst forward from midfield and saw his sweeping strike was sharply turned away by Ed McGinty.
Both sides started to sense blood as the game began to open, with chances coming at both ends.
Firstly, Josh Honohan cut inside from the left, and bent a lovely effort to the far post but was denied by Stephen McMullan at full stretch.
The visitors went straight down the other end and Olayinka turned two men before unleashing a powerful effort straight into McGinty’s midriff.
Waterford then spurned one of the clearest openings of the evening when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard and looked to be in on goal.
On the cover, Dan Cleary forced the front man slightly wide, leaving Padraig Amond free in the process, but his strike partner selfishly went for goal with the angle against him and shot straight at McGinty.
The hosts continued to be patient in their search to break the deadlock but were met by a well-organized sea of blue.
The introduction of two former PFAI award winners in Jack Byrne and Rory Gaffney showed the strength in depth at the disposal of the Bradley and lifted the crowd in the process.
The 35-year-old Gaffney reacted quickest to a spill by McMullan - who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25-yards, and tapped home with just 15 minutes remaining.
Rovers pushed for a second and fellow substitute Maxim Kovalevskis showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney, but he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked.
Rovers saw out the remaining minutes in what could prove a pivotal victory in the title race as his side’s attention now turns to both another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt.
Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Danny Grant (Maxim Kovalevskis, 76’), Dylan Watts (Rory Gaffney, 65’), Matt Healy, Danny Madroiu (Darragh Nugent, 87’), Josh Honohan; Graham Burke (Jack Byrne, 65’), Michael Noonan (Gary O’Neill, 87’).
Stephen McMullan; Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Trae Bailey Coyle, 80’); Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Dean McMenamy, 69’), Sam Glenfield, James Olayinka, Jesse Dempsey (Kyle White, 71’): Tommy Lonergan, Padraig Amond.
Paul Norton (Dublin).
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