Kerr McInroy winner earns Shels derby win and puts Shamrock Rovers’ celebrations on hold
Kerr McInroy of Shelbourne, right, celebrates with teammates Milan Mbeng, centre, and Harry Wood. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
The celebrations remain on hold at Shamrock Rovers as Shelbourne tenaciously delayed the champions-elect from sealing their title, a goal from Kerr McInroy deciding an intense Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium.
Disappointed at not sealing the deal in Dublin 24, Rovers now head to Inchicore next Friday to face St Patrick’s Athletic still searching for the point to clinch a fifth title in six years.
Only Rovers' second home defeat in the league this season marked a big win for Shelbourne in their quest for European qualification.
The result moves Joey O'Brien's side up to fourth in the table, a point behind Bohemians, ahead of a trip to Cork City on Monday.
With injury and international duty depriving him of Josh Honohan, Lee Grace, Danny Grant, skipper Roberto Lopes and Michael Noonan, Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley was forced into several key changes as Darragh Nugent, Rory Gaffney and Trevor Clarke came into his starting XI, the latter for only his third start of the league season.
Evan Caffrey and Jack Henry-Francis came in for Sean Gannon and Ali Coote in Shelbourne’s two changes from their 0-0 Conference League draw with Hacken last time out.
Though Rovers started on the front foot, it was Shelbourne who soon settled much the better to create all the chances in bossing a first half which saw them troop off at the interval full value for their lead.
In signalling Rovers’ lethargy, Hoops’ Danny Mandroiu gave the ball away in a dangerous area on six minutes. That allowed Caffrey and McInroy to work it to Henry-Francis who cleverly threaded a pass back in for McInroy whose shot was turned out for the game’s first corner by Adam Matthews.
Attacking from left-back, James Norris then flashed a low centre across the face of the home goal before Mipo Odubeko flicked wide of the far post from another Norris delivery as Rovers survived.
It was 12 minutes before Rovers got sight of goal, skipper on the night Graham Burke drilling well wide of Wessel Speel’s left-hand post.
But Shels continued to ask the main questions with Norris continually a real threat down their left.
He skipped past Dan Cleary, too honest in staying on his feet having been clipped, to cross for Harry Wood who sliced wide.
Then Matthews, playing in Lopes’ stead in the centre of a back three, produced a sublimely timed tackle on Odubeko who had galloped in behind onto a Kameron Ledwidge ball over the top.
It came as little surprise when Shelbourne got the reward for their positive endeavour with what would prove the winner on 33 minutes.
Henry-Francis and Caffrey were involved before Norris got in behind to cross. A slight deflection off Dan Cleary teed the ball up for the lurking McInroy who swept low past Ed McGinty with a first time left foot drive for his third goal of the season.
The Scottish schemer then had the first say on the restart five minutes in, his shot from 30 yards bringing a tip-over save from McGinty.
There was undoubtedly more urgency to Rovers' play and they would have been level on 58 minutes but for a fine save at the other end.
First a Dylan Watts free kick wasn’t cleared allowing Cleary to recycle the ball. A weak Ledwidge header from his cross fell for Mandroiu whose shot was turned away down to his left by Speel.
Free kicks in promising positions from Matthews and Burke were off target as Rovers' frustration mounted.
Shelbourne remained a real threat on the counter, Cleary getting his body in the way to deflect a drive from McInroy out for a corner.
Intrigue was added to proceedings on 77 minutes when Shelbourne captain Paddy Barrett was shown a straight red card for a two-footed sliding challenge to thwart the run of substitute John McGovern.
Roared on by the bulk of the 7,477 attendance, Rovers pressed until the final whistle.
Mandroiu headed over from a Sean Kavanagh cross while Norris cleared Cory O’Sullivan’s header off the line before Speel made his second telling save of the game from Mandroiu in stoppage time as Shelbourne held out.
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Matthews, O’Sullivan; Watts (McGovern, 65), Healy; Nugent, Mandroiu, Burke, Clarke (Kavanagh, 64); Gaffney (Malley, 64).
Shelbourne: Speel; Mbeng, Barrett, Ledwidge, Norris; Henry-Francis (Coote, 64), Lunney, McInroy, Caffrey (Coyle, 73); Wood (Temple, 81), Odubeko (Martin, 73).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
Attendance: 7,477.
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