Dylan Watts winner sends Shamrock Rovers six points clear after fiery Dublin derby
Lee Grace of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after Dylan Watts scores his side's winning goal against Bohemians. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Dylan Watts struck a second half winner as Shamrock Rovers stretched their lead at the top of the Premier Division table to six points in seeing off arch-rivals Bohemians before a record league attendance of 10,208 at Tallaght Stadium.
A thrilling Dublin derby was unfortunately marred by unsavoury end of match scenes which saw both sets of players and backroom staff get involved in several bouts of grappling, pushing and shoving on the pitch before tempers eased and Rovers celebrated in front of their fans, Bohemians commiserating with theirs.
While second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic have a game in hand, it’s surely Stephen Bradley’s champions’ title to lose now as they zone in on a sixth League of Ireland pennant in seven years.
Rovers finish their campaign with games away to Galway United on Friday, at home to relegated Sligo Rovers before their last day game at Dundalk.
Having lost Friday’s FAI Cup seem-final to Waterford, defeat here means Bohemians’ title challenge is all but over, although a place in next summer’s Conference League qualifiers has been secured.
Alan Reynolds’ Gypsies face Waterford again at home on Friday before finishing their campaign with Dublin derbies against Shelbourne, the last game under the old Dalymount Park floodlights, and away to St Patrick’s Athletic on the final day.
While Rovers made just one change from their win over Drogheda United last Thursday, with Will Fitzgerald coming in on the left flank for Jake Mulraney, Bohemians brought in Sam Todd, Adam McDonnell, Dayle Rooney and Collie Whelan in four switches from the side humbled by Waterford.
Amid a raucous atmosphere from the sellout crowd, a not unexpected helter-skelter start saw Rovers show the early initiative.
But it was Bohs who got the first shot on target four minutes in, a Jordan Flores free kick scarcely troubling Ed McGinty between the Hoops' posts after an off the ball foul on Collie Whelan.
While no card was brandished for an incident most in the crowd didn’t see, Dan Cleary was first to receive a booking after the Hoops defender tripped Connor Parsons as Bohs played their way into the game.
Minutes later a swift counter saw Whelan’s goal-bound drive blocked by Rovers skipper Roberto Lopes.
Bohs were dealt a blow on 15 minutes when Adam McDonnell was forced off with a calf injury to be replaced by left-back Ryan Burke, necessitating a reshuffle with Flores moving into the centre of the park alongside skipper Dawson Devoy.
And though Bohs enjoyed a good bout of possession soon after, Rovers gradually imposed their game on the visitors.
They worked Paul Walters for the first time on 25 minutes, the Bohs goalkeeper getting down smartly to parry away a low shot from Fitzgerald who had worked a one-two with John McGovern from a throw in on the left.
Four minutes later Hoops should really have been ahead.
Lee Grace initially blocked a shot from Whelan at one end. Rovers broke with McGovern linking with Graham Burke on the counter. The in-form striker, with four goals in his last two games, failed to apply the finish as he poked the return pass wide.
Amends were quickly delivered, though, the Down man making no mistake to send the Hoops’ Ultras in the south stand wild with the lead goal on 34 minutes.
The tenacity of Tunnies Sobowale and Burke carved the opening on the right, the latter’s dinked cross met by McGovern who out-jumped Darragh Power to head home his 10th league strike of the season.
Bohemians needed a response on the resumption. Two early free kicks in promising positions came to nothing while a back pass to McGinty by Grace wasn’t deemed as such, much to Bohs' angst.
They maintained the pressure on the home goal, Grace putting his body on the line with a brave block to a fiercely struck Flores shot following a corner before Devoy worked McGinty from distance.
And Bohs would get their due reward with a deserved equaliser on 71 minutes.
Devoy and Burke were involved, the latter’s ball into the area eventually breaking off a Grace challenge on substitute Douglas James-Taylor into the path of Ross Tierney who shot home from close range.
From scarcely being in the game since half-time, Rovers hit back for their winner five minutes later.
Under no pressure, Walters sliced a clearance out for a throw-in which proved costly.
McGovern’s long sling was flicked on by Grace to find Dylan Watts unmarked at the back post to shoot home.
Bohemians pressed for the remainder of the game but couldn’t muster a second equaliser, McGinty saving well from a Patrick Hickey and Harry Vaughan.
McGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Sobowale, Watts (Razi, 85), Healy, Fitzgerald (C. O’Sullivan, 80); Byrne (J. O’Sullivan, 65), Burke (Greene, 80); McGovern (Afolabi, 80).
Walters; Power, Hickey, Todd, Flores; Devoy, McDonnell (Burke, 15; Diallo, 81)); Parsons (Vaughan, 81), Tierney, Rooney (Strods, 60); Whelan (Strods, 60).
Rob Hennessy (Clare).
10,208.
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