League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 2 Bohemians

From Sam McKeever at Tallaght Stadium.

Goals from Ishmahil Akinade and Dinny Corcoran gave Bohemians their first win over there bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght since 2012 on Friday Night.

Stephen Bradley’s side had one change from Sunday’s win over Dundalk at Oriel Park as Sam Bone came in for injured captain Ronan Finn.

Bohs had five changes from their defeat at home to Derry with Derek Pender and Akinade coming in.

The opening minutes were expected to be a tight and tense affair and they were certainly that with the home side getting the first chance of the game, with Luke Byrne finding Graham Burke with a good cross but he could not keep his effort on target.

A dangerous ball in from the right from Brandon Miele evaded the foot of Akinade who was very lucky not to put the ball into his own net as he misread the flight of the ball, slicing it just past the post.

Rovers at this point were starting to take control of the game after Bohs started the better early on.

Bohs took the lead just before the half hour mark as Dinny Corcoran nutmegged Sam Bone before Akinade got a hold of the loose ball and released a rasping strike into the top corner to put the Gypsies ahead, goading the Rovers support in the celebrations.

Rovers responded straight away as a cross in from the right from Brandon Miele found the head of skipper Dave McAllister who was unmarked and he guided his header to the right of Shane Supple who could not get down quick enough.

Soon after the home side could not deal with a Bohs Corner properly as a ball in from Rob Cornwall found the unmarked Dinny Corcoran whose header looked certain for the top corner but lucky for Rovers it hit the post and was cleared in desperation by Sam Bone.

The second half started as the first finished as a whipped cross in from Miele just missed the head of Gary Shaw but ended up bouncing back to him from the chest of Trevor Clarke but the forward’s  second attempt was scooped over Shane Supple’s crossbar.

Bohs were back in front just before the hour mark as a quick throw from Lorcan Fitzgerald had caught out the Hoops defence leaving them vulnerable with Sam Bone losing Akinade in the process, before the towering striker lobbed it into the path of Dinny Corcoran who got the vital touch to put it past Chencinski, sending the Bohs traveling support into raptures.

The second half was a tense affair as both sides were involved in a midfield battle for the majority of it, with the away side putting the better passages of play together, just lacking that killer pass to create the chances they needed to kill off the game.

The Hoops started to put the pressure on in the latter stages of the second half as they tried to force an equalizer by pushing more men forward, having five strikers on at one point, ending up with very little reward with a Miele cross being the only real danger the Gypies had to deal with as the Bohs defence stayed firm.

Rovers golden chance came two minutes from the end to level as O’Connor’s nod down fell into the path of Sean Boyd but his side-footed effort could not find the corner of the goal as it just went past the post with Shane Supple scrambling in the process.

The result will be a huge confidence boost for Keith Long’s men going into the rest of the season while Stephen Bradley’s side will be disappointed with result especially after beating Dundalk last weekend.

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Luke Byrne, David Webster, Ryan Connolly(Michael O’Connor 80), Simon Madden; David McAllister, Brandon Miele, Sam Bone (Sean Boyd 55), Trevor Clarke; Gary Shaw, Graham Burke.

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan, Aaron Bolger, James Doona, Darren Meenan, Dean Dillion.

Yellow Cards:  Burke (50), Madden (60) Webster (68).

Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender,(Ian Morris 81), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Robert Cornwall, Dinny Corcoran; Dinny Corcoran(Ciaran O’Connor 89), Paddy Kavanagh(George Poynton 69), Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule, Warren O’Hora;  Ishmahil Akinade, Dylan Hayes.

Subs not used: Dan Byrne, Keith Ward, Greg Murray, Dan Casey.

Bookings: Cornwall (68).

Referee: Ben Connolly

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Fuad Sule (Bohemians).

Official Attendance: 4,534.